Global Sports Communication PROFILE Name: Bernard Barmasai Event: Road Races Place of birth: Baringo, Kenya Date of birth: 6 May 1974 Residence: Kipkabus, Kenya Height: 1.73m Weight: 54kg Marital status: Married to Joyce, 3 daughters: Mercy, Maureen, Sherleen. Sponsor: ADIDAS Personal best: 3.000m steeple chase 7.55.72 3.000m 7.36.40 10 K 28.07 10 Miles 45.59 ½ Marathon 62.05 Marathon 2.08.52 SHORT BIOGRAPHY Bernard Barmasai is not only famous for owning the world record in the steeplechase, but also for the way he takes the water jumps in his races. He accelerates 40 meters before the obstacle and without touching the barrier he jumps right over most of the water. A technique that has not yet been copied. After winning the All-African Games in 1995, Bernard came to run the IAAF cross-country challenge in the winter of 1996/1997. He scored enough points to go to the World Cross-Country Championships in Turin where he finished 6th. With that position he gathered so many points that he took second place in the IAAF challenge. Bernard, who has always been a very disciplined athlete, started to train even harder and that same summer it paid off. It would be the first year that Moses Kiptanui's hegemony was broken. Cologne was the first time he outsprinted the world famous steeplechaser and he finished in a fabulous new world record of 7:55.72. Bernard knows he is not such a fast finisher and therefore, he tries to make sure that he runs the last lap by himself, losing his competitors in the early stage of a race. At the start of the 1999 season he made a superb impression when winning the first three Golden League races without any signs of fatigue. Unfortunately, Bernard got involved in a confusing argument with the IAAF and was not allowed to go for the 1 Global Sports Communication Snelliusstr 10, 6533 NV Nijmegen, The Netherlands 0031 24 251 50 77, fax 0031 24 351 50 88 www.globalsportscommunication.nl Global Sports Communication Golden League Jackpot. Although he was confused by the IAAF's decision, Bernard managed to continue his great season, winning his event at the IAAF Grand Prix Final and being crowned '1999 Overall Grand Prix Winner'. The father of two daughters started running seriously in 1993. The most important reason was his incompetence with the game of soccer, the other big sport in Africa. Like Kiptanui, Bernard has a group of athletes who train with him. Under his supervision they try to reach the same level as he has because in Kenya winning the steeplechase in major championships is of national importance. At the Olympic Games in Sydney, Bernard finished 4th, which did not meet his expectations. It's strange, but it's true: the world record holder and winner of many Grand Prix and Golden League races has yet to win a major title. His competitors better be careful as Bernard has made winning a major title to be his personal challenge for 2001 and beyond! HIGHLIGHTS 2008 Hamburg Marathon, GER Marathon 2.13.12 15th 2007 Klagenfurt ½ Marathon, AUT ½ Marathon 63.09 1st 2006 Paris Marathon, FRA Marathon 2:08:52 3rd Amsterdam Marathon, NED Marathon 2.08.54 2nd 2005 Amsterdam Marathon, NED Marathon 2.10.52 4th 2004 Gymnastica de Ulia, ESP 9.8K 28.02 1st Paris ½ Marathon, FRA ½ Marathon 62.05 6th Rotterdam Marathon, NED Marathon 2.14.49 15th Dam tot Damloop, NED 10 Miles 45.59 2nd 2003 Memorial Pepe Greco 10K 29.01 4th Groningen 4 Miles 4 Miles 18.28 3rd 2002 2 Global Sports Communication Snelliusstr 10, 6533 NV Nijmegen, The Netherlands 0031 24 251 50 77, fax 0031 24 351 50 88 www.globalsportscommunication.nl Global Sports Communication Injured 2001 World Championships 3.000m st 3rd 2000 Sydney Olympic Games 3.000m st 4th 1999 World Championships 3.000m st 5th IAAF Grand Prix Final 3.000m st 1st Overall GP-winner 1998 Goodwill Games 3.000m st 1st All African Games 3.000m st 1st Commonwealth Games 3.000m st 1st 1997 World Cross Country Champs 6th World Championships 3.000m st 3rd IAAF Grand Prix Final 3.000m st 3rd 1995 All African Games 3.000m st 1st 3 Global Sports Communication Snelliusstr 10, 6533 NV Nijmegen, The Netherlands 0031 24 251 50 77, fax 0031 24 351 50 88 www.globalsportscommunication.nl .