Ali Kaya (born as Stanley Kiprotich Mukche on 20 April 1994) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who represented Turkey. He competed in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events and holds the 10,000 m European record for juniors, set in 2013.
Career He was born Stanley Kiprotich Mukche on 20 April 1994 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. In 2010, he moved to Turkey and adopted the Turkish name Ali Kaya. Following his naturalization in 2013, he became officially eligible to represent his new home country in international competitions on 20 June of the same year.
He won two gold medals, in the 5000 m and 10,000 m events, at the 2013 European Athletics Junior Championships held in Rieti, Italy. In the 10,000 m event, he set a new Turkish national record with a time of 28:31.16. He caused a scandal following the race when he abruptly left the championship for Kenya without showing up at the medal ceremony. Another Turkish athlete stood on the championship podium in Italy to receive his medal. According to the Turkish Athletics Federation, he travelled to Kenya in order to join a four-day training session in Kenya with his fellow countryman and naturalized Turk İlham Tanui Özbilen.
At the 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games held Palembang, Indonesia, Ali Kaya won a silver and a gold medal in the 5000-meter and 10,000-meter events, respectively.
In 2014, he competed at the European Athletics Team Championships Super League in Braunschweig, Germany, and won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres event with 13:56.64. At the European Championship in Zurich over 10.000 meters he competed against double Olympic champion Mo Farah, clinching a bronze medal after a fast finish. He became the youngest medalist ever in the European 10.000 final.
At the World Championships in Beijing 2015 he was one of only four athletes to reach the final of both the 10.000m and the 5000m. He finished 7th in 10000 m and 9th in 5000 m.
Kaya became the first Turkish person to win at the Istanbul Half Marathon in April 2016.Ramsak, Bob (24 April 2016). Kaya and Jepchumba cruise to Istanbul Half Marathon titles. IAAF. Retrieved on 24 April 2016.
International competitions 2013European Junior Championships Rieti, Italy1st 5000 m 13:49.761st 10,000 m 28:31.16 Islamic Solidarity Games Palembang, Indonesia2nd 5000 m 14:04.591st 10,000 m 29:36.64European Cross Country ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia1st Junior race 17:492014 European Team Championships Super League Braunschweig, Germany 3rd 5000 m 13:56.64 2015European Indoor ChampionshipsPrague, Czech Republic1st3000 m7:38.42 'European U23 ChampionshipsTallinn, Estonia1st5000 m13:20.161st10,000 m27:53.38World ChampionshipsBeijing, China9th5000 m13:56.517th10,000 m27:43.69European Cross Country ChampionshipsHyères, France1stSenior race29:209thSenior team154 pts2016European ChampionshipsAmsterdam, Netherlands2nd10,000 m28:21.42Olympic GamesRio de Janeiro, Brazil39th (h)5000 m14:05.34 –10,000 mDNF2017European Indoor ChampionshipsBelgrade, Serbia9th3000 m8:08.92Islamic Solidarity GamesBaku, Azerbaijan5th5000 m13:30.244th10,000 m27:54.41European Team ChampionshipsLille, France2nd3000 m7:59.541st10,000 m13:36.75 CR2026Mediterranean GamesTaranto, Italy1stHalf marathon1:02:06
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