Tributes flow as steeplechase star Jairus Birech passes away at 32
Jairus Birech rose to prominence as part of Kenya’s long line of world-class steeplechasers, dazzling fans with his speed and consistency during a golden spell between 2014 and 2015.
Kenya is mourning the death of former 3,000m steeplechase sensation Jairus Birech, who passed away on Thursday night after a short illness. He was 32.
Birech rose to prominence as part of Kenya’s long line of world-class steeplechasers, dazzling fans with his speed and consistency during a golden spell between 2014 and 2015.
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It was during this period that he captured the imagination of the athletics world, winning back-to-back Diamond League Trophies, conquering major cities including Rome, Oslo, Lausanne, Birmingham and Monaco.
The highlight of his career came at the 2014 Brussels Diamond League, where Birech stopped the clock at 7:58.41. That performance placed him among the top 10 fastest men of all time in the discipline, cementing his place in steeplechase history.
On the continental stage, he won the African Championships title in Marrakech in 2014 and the same year claimed silver at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, narrowly beaten to gold by compatriot Jonathan Ndiku.
Birech’s journey had begun earlier with a silver medal at the 2011 African Junior Athletics Championships, followed by a strong fourth-place finish at that year’s All-Africa Games.
His talent was undeniable, and many tipped him for global dominance. However, despite his brilliance, a world title eluded him.
At the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, he finished agonizingly close to the podium, placing fourth as Kenya completed a medal sweep through Ezekiel Kemboi, Conseslus Kipruto and Brimin Kipruto.
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