Susan Sirma
Susan Sirma (born May 26, 1966) is a retired Kenyan middle-distance runner best known for winning a bronze medal over 3000 metres at the 1991 World Championships, becoming the first black African woman to win a track and field medal at World Championship or Olympic level.
Career
[edit]Sirma also won two gold medals over this distance at the All-Africa Games, in fact the only times the 3000 metres was staged at the Games. In 1991 she also won the 1500 metres, her championship record still standing.
Personal life
[edit]She attended the Singore Girls Secondary School in Iten. Later, she shifted her base to Japan.[1] Fellow Kenyan-born runners Sally Barsosio[2] and Lornah Kiplagat are her cousins.[3]
Achievements
[edit]Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing Kenya | |||||
1987 | All-Africa Games | Nairobi, Kenya | 2nd | 1500 m | |
1st | 3000 m | ||||
1991 | World Championships | Tokyo, Japan | 7th | 1500 m | |
3rd | 3000 m | 8:39.41 | |||
All-Africa Games | Cairo, Egypt | 1st | 1500 m | 4:10.68 CR | |
1st | 3000 m | 8:49.33 CR |
References
[edit]- ^ NY Times, July 1, 1992: OLYMPICS: BARCELONA PROFILE; African Women Reach Starting Line
- ^ Daily News (Los Angeles, CA), March 31, 1996: KENYAN WOMEN FEEL OLYMPIC HEAT
- ^ Running Times Magazine, May 2006: Lornah - Inventing Herself and a Better World
External links
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