Saif Saaeed Shaheen
Encyclopedia
Saif Saaeed Shaheen formerly Stephen Cherono (born October 15, 1982 in Keiyo, Kenya
) is a steeplechase
runner now representing Qatar
. He currently holds the world record
for 3000 metre steeplechase. His older brother Abraham Cherono
is also a steeplechase runner.
He was the 1999 World Youth Champion in the steeplechase and set a world junior record two years later. He won the steeplechase at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
for Kenya but switched allegiance to Qatar in 2003. That year he became world champion in the event, although a dispute with the Kenyan Athletics Federation meant he was ineligible to compete at the 2004 Summer Olympics
. He defeated that year's Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi
, a month later with a world record run of 7:53.63 minutes.
In the 2006 season he took the 3000 metres
silver medal at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
and also set a number of Asian records. He completed a 5000 m/steeplechase double at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
. Serious injuries ruled him out from late 2006 to 2008 and he returned to competition in 2009.
, showing athletic ability from a young age. He initially made his mark on the international stage with a win at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
over the 2000 metre steeplechase
. A world junior record in the 3000 m steeplechase followed in 2001 at the Memorial van Damme
meet in Brussels
– his mark of 7:58.66 has stood for almost a decade. He went on to become the world champion over the 3000 metre steeplechase course in 2003
and again in 2005
.
He began to experiment with longer distances and in 2003 he ran the fastest 5000 metres
race in the world, a 12:48.81 in a meet in Ostrava in which he defeated multiple world champion Hicham El Guerrouj
by two seconds.
., although he denied this. The defection was deeply unpopular with the Kenyan Government, President Mwai Kibaki
made a public speech before the 2003 World Championships that included the statement "Let us resist the temptation to change our citizenship for financial gains."
He began his international career for Qatar by winning two medals at the 2003 Asian Athletics Championships, taking silvers over 1500 m and 5000 m. When Shaheen won the steeplechase at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics
in Paris, his brother who ran in the race walked off the track and did not congratulate him due to his defection to Qatar.
Shaheen himself felt the repercussions of the defection, as he was barred from competing in the 2004 Olympic Games. This was due to an International Olympic Committee
(IOC) rule that athletes may not compete in international events for a period of three years subsequent to competing in an international event for a different country. This rule may be waived in cases where the athlete and the governing athletics bodies from the two countries involved are willing to forgo the penalty. In the case of Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the Kenyan Athletics Federation was not willing to forgo the penalty, and he was barred from the Olympics. Kenyan runner Ezekiel Kemboi
won the Olympic steeplechase race that year.
Shaheen's move is a prominent example of increasing globalization
in athletics, as countries like Qatar and fellow Gulf State Bahrain
have persuaded high-profile African athletes to change nationalities. This marked a change of motivation in athlete transfers, in contrast, for example, to the politically motivated change of Zola Budd
, or the marriage and emigration issues that led Wilson Kipketer
to compete for Denmark. IOC President Jacques Rogge
has also raised concerns about athletes moving between countries, stating that, "What is bad is countries or organizations wanting to buy athletes just for the money."
Sympathy has been expressed for Shaheen's move. The previous holder of the 3000 metre steeplechase world record, Kenyan Moses Kiptanui
stating "We have seen a lot of athletes who were running in the 1968 Olympics or 1974 until maybe last year, some of them, they are living in a very, very sparse state. They are very poor despite the fact they have done great things for this country".
, leading Qatar to the team bronze on both occasions. On the track later that year he became the steeplechase world champion with a win at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
, defeating his Kenyan rivals Kemboi and Kipruto. He began the following year by running an Asian indoor record to win the 3000 metres
gold medal at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
. Moving on to the global stage, he ran in the event at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
and took the silver medal, losing to Kenenisa Bekele
by two seconds. This was his first global indoor medal but he was not happy with his race tactics: "That was not very intelligent of me. I knew exactly when Kenenisa would start his kick and I planned to be close to him at that time. But I wasn't."
In the outdoor season he took two wins on the 2006 IAAF Golden League
, taking the steeplechase races at the Weltklasse Zurich
and Memorial van Damme
meetings. He was selected to represent Asia at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
and completed a double by taking the 5000 m title and then setting a championship record to win in his steeplechase speciality. Shaheen was the first runner to medal in both events at the same competition, let alone win the double.
His successful season came at a price as, after ignoring doctor's orders, the tendinitis in his patella worsened and an Achilles tendon
injury doubled his health difficulties. As a result he missed a number of major competitions, including the 2006 Asian Games
, the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He began finding it difficult to walk for long periods and underwent treatment with renowned sports injury specialist Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt. A possible comeback in 2008 turned out to be a write-off as he pulled up in pain in circuit races in Athens and Eugene, Oregon.
He came back into competition in early 2009. He won the Cinque Mulini
race and set his sights upon the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
. Although not at his best, his thirteenth place finish at the competition to head the Qatari team to fifth in the rankings marked his return to the top level. When he returned to the track he set a personal best in the 3000 metres
at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
, running 7:32.46 for fourth place. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
, however, he was far from the form which brought him a world record. He finished eleventh in his 5000 m heat and was eliminated in the first round.
He competed in his first elite road race
in 2010, running at the Belgrade Race Through History
. He finished the difficult 6 km course in 16:57, which was enough for fourth place behind Stephen Tum. A runner-up finish followed at the Great South Run
10-miler followed two weeks later, where he was second only to Joseph Ebuya
who recorded the fastest ever time in the United Kingdom
.
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...
) is a steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
runner now representing Qatar
Qatar
Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its...
. He currently holds the world record
World records in athletics
World records in the sport of athletics are ratified by the International Association of Athletics Federations. Athletics records comprise the best performances in the sports of track and field, road running and racewalking....
for 3000 metre steeplechase. His older brother Abraham Cherono
Abraham Cherono
Abraham Cherono is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase and cross-country running.He is the older brother of Stephen Cherono, who moved to Qatar and changed his name to Saif Saaeed Shaheen ....
is also a steeplechase runner.
He was the 1999 World Youth Champion in the steeplechase and set a world junior record two years later. He won the steeplechase at the 2002 Commonwealth Games
2002 Commonwealth Games
The 2002 Commonwealth Games were held in Manchester, England from 25 July to 4 August 2002. The XVII Commonwealth Games was the largest multi-sport event ever to be held in the UK, eclipsing London's 1948 Summer Olympics in numbers of teams and athletes participating.After the 1996 Manchester...
for Kenya but switched allegiance to Qatar in 2003. That year he became world champion in the event, although a dispute with the Kenyan Athletics Federation meant he was ineligible to compete 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...
. He defeated that year's Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi Cheboi is a Kenyan athlete, winner of the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the 2009 World Championships and the 2011 World Championships. He became African Junior Champion in 2001 and came to prominence with a silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games...
, a month later with a world record run of 7:53.63 minutes.
In the 2006 season he took the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
silver medal at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations was held in Moscow from March 10 to March 12, 2006 in the Olimpiyski Sport arena....
and also set a number of Asian records. He completed a 5000 m/steeplechase double at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
2006 IAAF World Cup
The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....
. Serious injuries ruled him out from late 2006 to 2008 and he returned to competition in 2009.
Early competition for Kenya
Stephen Cherono was born and raised in KenyaKenya
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...
, showing athletic ability from a young age. He initially made his mark on the international stage with a win at the 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics
The 1999 World Youth Championships in Athletics was the first edition of the World Youth Championships in Athletics. It was held in Bydgoszcz, Poland from July 16 to July 18, 1999.-Boys:-Girls:-Medals table:...
over the 2000 metre steeplechase
Steeplechase (athletics)
The steeplechase is an obstacle race in athletics, which derives its name from the steeplechase in horse racing.-Rules:The length of the race is usually 3000 m; junior events are 2000 m, as women's events formerly were. The circuit has four ordinary barriers and one water jump. Over 3000 m, each...
. A world junior record in the 3000 m steeplechase followed in 2001 at the Memorial van Damme
Memorial Van Damme
Memorial van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium that takes place in late August or early September...
meet in Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
– his mark of 7:58.66 has stood for almost a decade. He went on to become the world champion over the 3000 metre steeplechase course in 2003
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
and again in 2005
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
.
He began to experiment with longer distances and in 2003 he ran the fastest 5000 metres
5000 metres
The 5000 metres is a popular running distance also known as 5 km or 5K in American English. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics. "5000 metres" refers to racing on a track and "5K" usually refers to a roadrace or cross country event...
race in the world, a 12:48.81 in a meet in Ostrava in which he defeated multiple world champion Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj
Hicham El Guerrouj "King of the Mile" is a Moroccan former middle distance runner...
by two seconds.
Move to Qatar
Despite Shaheen's achievements on the track, he is most notable for his move from Kenya to Qatar in 2003. Changing his name from Stephen Cherono to Saif Saaeed Shaheen, he was reported to have received up to $1 million to change his citizenshipCitizenship
Citizenship is the state of being a citizen of a particular social, political, national, or human resource community. Citizenship status, under social contract theory, carries with it both rights and responsibilities...
., although he denied this. The defection was deeply unpopular with the Kenyan Government, President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
made a public speech before the 2003 World Championships that included the statement "Let us resist the temptation to change our citizenship for financial gains."
He began his international career for Qatar by winning two medals at the 2003 Asian Athletics Championships, taking silvers over 1500 m and 5000 m. When Shaheen won the steeplechase at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics
2003 World Championships in Athletics
The 9th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held from 23 August to 31 August 2003 in the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.-Track:...
in Paris, his brother who ran in the race walked off the track and did not congratulate him due to his defection to Qatar.
Shaheen himself felt the repercussions of the defection, as he was barred from competing in the 2004 Olympic Games. This was due to an International Olympic Committee
International Olympic Committee
The International Olympic Committee is an international corporation based in Lausanne, Switzerland, created by Pierre de Coubertin on 23 June 1894 with Demetrios Vikelas as its first president...
(IOC) rule that athletes may not compete in international events for a period of three years subsequent to competing in an international event for a different country. This rule may be waived in cases where the athlete and the governing athletics bodies from the two countries involved are willing to forgo the penalty. In the case of Saif Saaeed Shaheen, the Kenyan Athletics Federation was not willing to forgo the penalty, and he was barred from the Olympics. Kenyan runner Ezekiel Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi
Ezekiel Kemboi Cheboi is a Kenyan athlete, winner of the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2004 Summer Olympics, the 2009 World Championships and the 2011 World Championships. He became African Junior Champion in 2001 and came to prominence with a silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games...
won the Olympic steeplechase race that year.
Shaheen's move is a prominent example of increasing globalization
Globalization
Globalization refers to the increasingly global relationships of culture, people and economic activity. Most often, it refers to economics: the global distribution of the production of goods and services, through reduction of barriers to international trade such as tariffs, export fees, and import...
in athletics, as countries like Qatar and fellow Gulf State Bahrain
Bahrain
' , officially the Kingdom of Bahrain , is a small island state near the western shores of the Persian Gulf. It is ruled by the Al Khalifa royal family. The population in 2010 stood at 1,214,705, including 235,108 non-nationals. Formerly an emirate, Bahrain was declared a kingdom in 2002.Bahrain is...
have persuaded high-profile African athletes to change nationalities. This marked a change of motivation in athlete transfers, in contrast, for example, to the politically motivated change of Zola Budd
Zola Budd
Zola Pieterse, better known by her maiden name of Zola Budd , is a former Olympic track and field competitor who, in less than three years, twice broke the world record in the women's 5000 metres and twice was the women's winner at the World Cross Country Championships...
, or the marriage and emigration issues that led 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...
to compete for Denmark. IOC President Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge
Jacques Rogge, Count Rogge , is a Belgian sports bureaucrat. He is the eighth and current President of the International Olympic Committee .-Life and career:...
has also raised concerns about athletes moving between countries, stating that, "What is bad is countries or organizations wanting to buy athletes just for the money."
Sympathy has been expressed for Shaheen's move. The previous holder of the 3000 metre steeplechase world record, Kenyan Moses Kiptanui
Moses Kiptanui
Moses Kiptanui is a middle and long distance athlete mostly famous for 3,000 m steeplechase in which he was the number one ranked athlete from 1991 to 1995 and three time IAAF World Champion...
stating "We have seen a lot of athletes who were running in the 1968 Olympics or 1974 until maybe last year, some of them, they are living in a very, very sparse state. They are very poor despite the fact they have done great things for this country".
Competing for Qatar
He was eighth in the long race and fourth in the short race at the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held 19-20 March 2005 in Saint-Étienne and Saint-Galmier , France.- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :- Individual :- Team :...
, leading Qatar to the team bronze on both occasions. On the track later that year he became the steeplechase world champion with a win at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics
2005 World Championships in Athletics
The 10th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held in the Olympic Stadium, Helsinki, Finland , the site of the first IAAF World Championships in 1983. One theme of the 2005 championships was paralympic sports, some of...
, defeating his Kenyan rivals Kemboi and Kipruto. He began the following year by running an Asian indoor record to win the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
gold medal at the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships
The 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships was an international indoor athletics event took place in Pattaya, Thailand, between 10 and 12 February.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:-Participating nations:...
. Moving on to the global stage, he ran in the event at the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 11th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations was held in Moscow from March 10 to March 12, 2006 in the Olimpiyski Sport arena....
and took the silver medal, losing to Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele
Kenenisa Bekele is an Ethiopian long-distance runner, who holds the world record and Olympic record in both the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres events...
by two seconds. This was his first global indoor medal but he was not happy with his race tactics: "That was not very intelligent of me. I knew exactly when Kenenisa would start his kick and I planned to be close to him at that time. But I wasn't."
In the outdoor season he took two wins on the 2006 IAAF Golden League
2006 IAAF Golden League
The 2006 Golden League was the 9th edition of the IAAF's annual series of six athletics meets, held across Europe, with athletes having the chance to win the Golden League Jackpot of $1 million.-Programme:- Men :- Women :-External links:*...
, taking the steeplechase races at the Weltklasse Zurich
Weltklasse Zürich
Weltklasse Zürich is an annual track and field meeting at the Letzigrund in Zurich, Switzerland. Previously one of the IAAF Golden League events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. One of the first large-scale international athletics events , it is sometimes referred to as the one day...
and Memorial van Damme
Memorial Van Damme
Memorial van Damme is an annual athletics event at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium that takes place in late August or early September...
meetings. He was selected to represent Asia at the 2006 IAAF World Cup
2006 IAAF World Cup
The 10th IAAF World Cup in Athletics was an international track and field sporting event, held under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, which took place on 16 and 17 September 2006 at the Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece....
and completed a double by taking the 5000 m title and then setting a championship record to win in his steeplechase speciality. Shaheen was the first runner to medal in both events at the same competition, let alone win the double.
His successful season came at a price as, after ignoring doctor's orders, the tendinitis in his patella worsened and an Achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
injury doubled his health difficulties. As a result he missed a number of major competitions, including the 2006 Asian Games
2006 Asian Games
The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia's Olympic-style sporting event that was held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to December 15, 2006. Doha was the first city in its region and only the second in West Asia to host the games...
, the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
2007 World Championships in Athletics
The 11th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations , were held at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan from 24 August to 2 September 2007...
and the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He began finding it difficult to walk for long periods and underwent treatment with renowned sports injury specialist Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt. A possible comeback in 2008 turned out to be a write-off as he pulled up in pain in circuit races in Athens and Eugene, Oregon.
He came back into competition in early 2009. He won the Cinque Mulini
Cinque Mulini
The Cinque Mulini is an annual cross country running race in San Vittore Olona, Italy. First held in 1933, the course is unusual in that it revolves around a number of water mills, which lend the competition its name – meaning Five Mills in Italian. It is one of the IAAF cross country permit...
race and set his sights upon the 2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
2009 IAAF World Cross Country Championships
The 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships were held in the Al Bisharat Golf Course at Amman, Jordan on 28 March 2009. Four races took place, one for men, women, junior men and junior women respectively. All races encompassed both individual and team competition...
. Although not at his best, his thirteenth place finish at the competition to head the Qatari team to fifth in the rankings marked his return to the top level. When he returned to the track he set a personal best in the 3000 metres
3000 metres
The 3000 metres is a popular amateur middle distance track event where 7.5 laps are completed around a 400 metre track. This event is generally classified as middle distance, but it could be classed as a long distance event in many high schools, since they do not promote races such as the 5000 and...
at the Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix
The Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix is an annual athletics event at the Qatar SC Stadium in Doha, Qatar. Previously one of the five IAAF Super Grand Prix events, it is now part of the IAAF Diamond League. It was first organized in 1997.-Men:-Women:...
, running 7:32.46 for fourth place. At the 2009 World Championships in Athletics
2009 World Championships in Athletics
The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate....
, however, he was far from the form which brought him a world record. He finished eleventh in his 5000 m heat and was eliminated in the first round.
He competed in his first elite road race
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
in 2010, running at the Belgrade Race Through History
Belgrade Race Through History
The Belgrade Race Through History is an annual men's footrace of around 6 kilometres that is held in Belgrade, Serbia. The course of the race traces a path through the capital's ancient fortress; the Kalemegdan. The purpose of the race is to emphasise the history and culture of the city...
. He finished the difficult 6 km course in 16:57, which was enough for fourth place behind Stephen Tum. A runner-up finish followed at the Great South Run
Great South Run
The Bupa Great South Run is an annual 10 miles road running race which takes place in Portsmouth, United Kingdom. Launched in 1990, it is part of the Great Run series created by former British athlete Brendan Foster...
10-miler followed two weeks later, where he was second only to Joseph Ebuya
Joseph Ebuya
Joseph Ebuya is a Kenyan runner who specializes in the 5000 metres and was the 2010 IAAF World Cross Country Championships champion.-Early life and career:...
who recorded the fastest ever time in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.