Nancy Jebet Langat (born 22 August 1981) is a Kenyan middle distance runner who specialises in the 1,500 metres. She won the gold medal in the 1,500 m at the 2008 Summer Olympics, in a personal best time of 4:00.23.
She also competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 2005 World Championships, without reaching the finals. In her younger days, she mainly competed in the 800 metres, and was successful as a junior.
Langat's gold at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing made her only the second Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold. The first one was Pamela Jelimo, who won the 800 m at the same Olympics. At the 2009 World Championships, Langat did not advance past the semifinals, but finished the season with a win at the World Athletics Final.
In 2010 Langat won the Diamond League 1500 m. She was undefeated in all races against the best runners in the world. He performance at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup was controversial, as she attempted to pull back Hind Dehiba as the two duelled in the final straight. Langat fell and finished last. She claimed an 800/1500 m middle distance double at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, however, and was chosen as the Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year in December.
Langat had less success on the 2011 Diamond League circuit: on her two appearances, at the Golden Gala and Prefontaine Classic, she came fifth both times. She topped the podium in the 1500 m at the 2011 Military World Games, but was eliminated in the semi-finals at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics. She suffered a knee injury in 2012 and missed the opportunity to defend her Olympic title.
Personal life Nancy Langat is married to marathon runner Kenneth Cheruiyot. Her oldest son turned six on the day that she won Olympic Gold. She was recruited by Kenya Air Force and is based at the Moi Air Base in Nairobi. Her father Joseph Langat was an international level long-distance runner.
Achievements Representing 1996World Junior Championships Sydney, Australia3rd800 m2:03.211998World Junior Championships Annecy, France2nd800 m2:05.43Commonwealth Games Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia18th (h)800 m2:07.682000World Junior Championships Santiago, Chile1st800 m2:01.512004African Championships Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo1st1500 m4:24.56Olympic Games Athens, Greece15th (sf)1500 m4:07.572005World Cross Country Championships Saint-Étienne, France8thShort race (4.196 km)13:31World Championships Helsinki, Finland24th (h)1500 m4:16.132008African Championships Addis Ababa, Ethiopia4th1500 m4:16.19Olympic Games Beijing, China1st1500 m4:00.032009World Championships Berlin, Germany19th (sf)1500 m4:11.10World Athletics Final Thessaloniki, Greece1st1500 m4:13.632010African Championships Nairobi, Kenya1st1500 m4:10.43IAAF Continental Cup Split, Croatia8th 1500 m4:23.93Representing AfricaCommonwealth Games Delhi, India1st800 m2:00.011st1500 m4:05.262011Military World GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil1st1500 m4:15.42World Championships Daegu, South Korea24th (sf)1500 m4:12.922013World ChampionshipsMoscow, Russia9th1500 m4:06.01
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