16 Facts About Linet Masai

Linet Chepkwemoi Masai was born on 5 December 1989 and is a Kenyan professional long-distance runner who competes in track and cross country running events.

Linet Masai won her first world title in the 10,000 metres at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.

In 2017 she was awarded the olympic bronze medal after the initial silver medallist Elvan Abeylegesse tested positive for a banned steroid in a retest of her 2007 doping sample, thus Linet Masai became the first kenyan woman to win a medal in a 10,000m olympic event.

Linet Masai was the runner-up at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships three times consecutively from 2009 to 2011.

Linet Masai was born in Kapsokwony town, Mount Elgon District, and was raised in from Bugaa village, four kilometres away.

Linet Masai went to Kapsagom Primary School and then Bishop Okiring Secondary school from where she graduated in 2005.

Linet Masai is based at the PACE Sports Management training camp in Kaptagat.

Linet Masai won the women's junior race at the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Mombasa, Kenya.

Linet Masai finished fourth at the Kenyan trials for the 2007 World Championships 5000 metres race, missing the ticket to Osaka.

Linet Masai did compete at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final, achieving two fourth places.

Linet Masai was awarded the Race Results Weekly Female Runner of the Year award and the Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year award in 2009.

Linet Masai began the buildup to her 2010 World Cross Country campaign with wins at the Cross Internacional Valle de Llodio and Cross Internacional de Soria, beating the rest of the field by some distance both times.

Linet Masai was the women's winner at the Great Edinburgh Cross Country in January 2011, but had to settle for second at the Cross de Italica behind Cheruiyot.

Linet Masai defeated Cheruiyot to win at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships and set her eyes on the world title, saying that she remained bitter about not winning at the two previous competitions.

Linet Masai's attempted defence over the longer distance was thwarted by Cheruiyot: Masai was beaten into third place in a sprint finish, although this was part of a dominant Kenyan team which took the top four places.

Linet Masai was runner-up at both the Cross de Atapuerca and the San Silvestre Vallecana.