Ismael Kirui

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Medal record
Men’s Athletics
Competitor for Kenya
World Championships
Gold	1993 Stuttgart	5.000 m
Gold	1995 Gothenburg	5.000 m

Ismael Kirui (born February 20, 1975 in Kapcherop, Marakwet District) is a former Kenyan long distance runner who won gold medals over 5000 metres at the 1993 and 1995 World Championships in Athletics.

His victory in Stuttgart in 1993 was especially impressive as he was only aged eighteen and led the race from the front for most of the second half. On the final straight he shrugged off an attack from Haile Gebreselassie. His winning time of 13:02.75 minutes was a new World Championships record. His gold medal in 1995 was won under very different circumstances as the final was run at a slow pace and decided in a sprint.

Ismael Kirui is the younger brother of the late Richard Chelimo. Other relatives include brother William "Willy" Kirui, half-sister Catherine Kirui and cousins Moses Kiptanui and William Mutwol.