Ali Kaya

Ali Kaya

Ali Kaya at the 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships in Rieti.
Personal information
Birth name	Stanley Kiprotich Mukche
Nationality	Kenyan-Turkish
Born	(1994-04-20) April 20, 1994 Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya
Sport
Country	Turkey
Sport	Long-distance running
Event(s)	5000 m, 10,000 m
Coached by	Carol Santa
Medal record Men's athletics Competitor for  Turkey European Championships 2014 Zürich 10,000 m European Indoor Championships 2015 Prague 3000 m European Cross Country Championships 2013 Belgrade Junior race 2015 Hyères Individual 2014 Samokov Individual Islamic Solidarity Games 2013 Palembang 10,000 m 2013 Palembang 5000 m

Ali Kaya (born as Stanley Kiprotich Mukche on 20 April 1994) is a Turkish long distance runner of Kenyan origin competing in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events. He holds the 10,000 m European record for juniors, set in 2013.

He was born Stanley Kiprotich Mukche on April 20, 1994 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. In 2010, he moved to Turkey and adopted the Turkish name Ali Kaya. Following his naturalization in 2013, he became officially eligible to represent his new home country in international competitions on June 20 the same year.^[1][2][3]

He won two gold medals, in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events, at the 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships held in Rieti, Italy. In the 10,000 m event, he set a new Turkish national record with a time of 28:31.16.^[3][4] He caused a scandal following the race when he abruptly left the championship for Kenya without showing up at the medal ceremony. Another Turkish athlete stood on the championship podium in Italy to receive his medal.^[5] According to the Turkish Athletics Federation, he travelled to Kenya in order to join a four-day training session in Kenya with his fellow countryman and naturalized Turk İlham Tanui Özbilen.

At the 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games held Palembang, Indonesia, Ali Kaya won a silver and a gold medal in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events respectively.^[6][7]

At the European Championship in Zurich over 10.000 meters he competed against double Olympic champion Mo Farah, clinching a bronze medal after a fast finish.^[8] He became the youngest medalist ever in the European 10.000 final.

At the World Championships in Beijing 2015 he was one of only four athletes to reach the final of both the 10.000m and the 5000m. He finished 7th in 10000m and 9th in 5000m.

International competitions

References