Chelimo dies aged 34

Chelimo, with Boutayeb and Skah, at Barcelona '92

Former 10,000m world record holder Richard Chelimo has died of a brain tumor.

"Chelimo was admitted to the hospital on 26 July and died yesterday (Wednesday) of a brain tumor," Mbotela Khisia of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital said on Thursday.

The 34-year-old Kenyan had been unwell for some time.

His death is a big loss to the country and the athletics fraternity at large

Colm O'Connel
Former coach

He broke the 10,000m world record in Stockholm in 1992. It was broken within a week by fellow Kenyan Yobes Ondieki, the first man to run the distance in under 27 minutes.

"Chelimo was a hard-working athlete. His death is a big loss to the country and the athletics fraternity at large," Chelimo's former coach, Brother Colm O'Connel, said.

Chelimo's first medal at a major event was a silver at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in 1991. Compatriot Moses Tanui won the gold.

At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Chelimo picked up another silver medal, losing to Moroccan Khalid Skah, who would become a bitter rival over 10,000m.