Wilfred Bungei
Encyclopedia
Wilfred Kipkemboi Bungei (born 24 July 1980) is a Kenya
n middle distance runner
, who won the 800 m
gold medal
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing. He also won at the World indoor Championships in Moscow 2006 the 800 metres
title, defeating Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
and Olympic Champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy
in the course of the race.
Bungei was ranked No.1 in the world over 800 m in 2002 and 2003. He has a personal best of 1:42.34 minutes (Rieti 2002), thus being currently the seventh fastest runner in the history of the event. At the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
in Edmonton he won a silver medal
over 800 m, finishing behind Andre Bucher
.
While in school, he focused on sprints and decathlon, before concentrating on 800 metres running .
He graduated from Samoei High School in 1998. At the 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics
he won a silver medal. Bungei represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens, Greece.
Bungei is from Kabirirsang
, a village near Kapsabet
. Several of his relatives are runners, including his brother Sammy Kurgat, who won the 2008 Cologne Marathon
. He is a second cousin to Kenyan-born Danish
former athlete Wilson Kipketer
, while his mum is a cousin of Henry Rono
.
Bungei is based near Verona
, Italy
during track season. He is married to Priscah Bungei with two sons (as of 2008).
He was part of the 4 x 800 metres relay
team who currently holds the world record.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n middle distance runner
Running
Running is a means of terrestrial locomotion allowing humans and other animals to move rapidly on foot. It is simply defined in athletics terms as a gait in which at regular points during the running cycle both feet are off the ground...
, who won the 800 m
Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics - Men's 800 metres
-Results:All times shown are in seconds. The following abbreviations are used:* Q denotes qualification by place* q denotes qualification by time* DNS denotes did not start* DNF denotes did not finish* DQ denotes disqualification...
gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
at the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
in Beijing. He also won at the World indoor Championships in Moscow 2006 the 800 metres
800 metres
The 800 meter race is a common track running event. It is the shortest common middle distance track event. The 800 meter is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. During indoor track season the event is usually run on a 200 meter track, therefore requiring four laps...
title, defeating Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
Mbulaeni Mulaudzi
Mbulaeni Tongai Mulaudzi is a South African middle distance runner, and the 2009 world champion in the men's 800 metres. He carried the flag at the opening ceremony of the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece for his native country...
and Olympic Champion Yuriy Borzakovskiy
Yuriy Borzakovskiy
Yuriy Mikhailovich Borzakovskiy is a Russian middle distance athlete specializing in the 800 metres.-Athletic career:Borzakovskiy's first major international success was a victory at the 2000 European Indoor Championships when he was only 18 years old. At the 2000 Summer Olympics he reached the...
in the course of the race.
Bungei was ranked No.1 in the world over 800 m in 2002 and 2003. He has a personal best of 1:42.34 minutes (Rieti 2002), thus being currently the seventh fastest runner in the history of the event. At the 2001 World Championships in Athletics
2001 World Championships in Athletics
The 8th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada between 3 August and 12 August and was the first time the event had visited North America...
in Edmonton he won a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
over 800 m, finishing behind Andre Bucher
André Bucher
André Bucher is a retired Swiss 800 metres runner. He is best known for winning the gold medal at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton in his event. Bucher also won the indoor bronze that same year....
.
While in school, he focused on sprints and decathlon, before concentrating on 800 metres running .
He graduated from Samoei High School in 1998. At the 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics
1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics
The 1998 World Junior Championships in Athletics is the 1998 version of the World Junior Championships in Athletics. It was held in Annecy, France from July 28 to August 2, 1998.-Men:-Women:-Medals table:...
he won a silver medal. Bungei represented his native country at the 2004 Summer Olympics
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
in Athens, Greece.
Bungei is from Kabirirsang
Kabirirsang
Kabirirsang is a village near Kapsabet in the Nandi Hills in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. Administratively, Kabirirsang is a location in Kilibwoni division of Nandi District . Its local authority is Kapsabet municipality and local constituency is Emgwen ....
, a village near Kapsabet
Kapsabet
Kapsabet is a town in the Rift Valley Province, Kenya. It is the capital of Nandi Central District. Kapsabet hosts a municipal council and divisional headquarters of Kapsabet administrative division...
. Several of his relatives are runners, including his brother Sammy Kurgat, who won the 2008 Cologne Marathon
Cologne Marathon
The Cologne Marathon is an annual marathon held in Cologne, Germany. Since October 1997 the marathon has been held annually in early October, except for 2004 and 2005 when it was held in late September.-Course:...
. He is a second cousin to Kenyan-born Danish
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
former athlete Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kipketer
Wilson Kosgei Kipketer is a Kenyan born Danish former middle distance runner. He holds the current indoor world records at the 1000 and 800 metres distance. While dominating the 800 m distance for a decade, remaining undefeated for a three-year period and running 8 of the 17 currently all-time...
, while his mum is a cousin of Henry Rono
Henry Rono
Henry Rono is a Kenyan former athlete.-Biography:Rono was born in Nandi Hills, Kenya, into the Nandi tribe. He started running while at primary school. Starting in 1976 he attended the Washington State University, along with his compatriot Samson Kimobwa, who broke the 10,000 meter world record in...
.
Bungei is based near Verona
Verona
Verona ; German Bern, Dietrichsbern or Welschbern) is a city in the Veneto, northern Italy, with approx. 265,000 inhabitants and one of the seven chef-lieus of the region. It is the second largest city municipality in the region and the third of North-Eastern Italy. The metropolitan area of Verona...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
during track season. He is married to Priscah Bungei with two sons (as of 2008).
He was part of the 4 x 800 metres relay
4 x 800 metres relay
The 4 x 800 metres relay is an athletics track event in which teams comprise four runners who each complete 800 metres or 2 laps on a standard 400 meter track....
team who currently holds the world record.