For most Kenyans, when they think of the 3,000m steeplechase race, the name Ezekiel Kemboi often comes to their minds.
Not only because he won everything there is to win in the discipline, but also due to the numerous occasions he cracked their ribs.
From his funny hairstyles to his unique dancing moves, the middle-distance runner had it all in his locker.
Also Read: Ezekiel Kemboi Speaks on Kenya's Poor Results in 3000M Steeplechase
TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at the incredible achievements of one of the world's greatest steeplechasers of all time.
Kemboi was born in Matira, a little-known village located in Kapsowar in the vast County of Elgeyo/Marakwet.
Unlike most runners who ventured into athletics at an early age, Kemboi did not engage in the discipline until the completion of his post-primary school studies.
“I realized after high school that I had a talent and then started training. I had faith and confidence and then became Kemboi.
“When we were in high school we used to participate in inter-classes and inter-dormitories events but back then I did not take the sport seriously,” he told Cheche 254 in a recent interview.
800m Olympic gold medalist Paul Ereng is the man credited for identifying this explosive athlete.
Ereng nurtured Kemboi, who did not take long to master the art of steeplechase running.
Within less than a three-year period, Kemboi broke into the limelight during the 2001 African Junior Championships, winning the title in spectacular fashion despite falling.
However, things did not seem to work out as he would have wanted between 2002 and 2008.
During those years, Kemboi faced stiff competition from Kenya-born Qatari international Stephen Cherono, commonly known as Saif Saeed.
It was only until the 2009 World Championships event staged in Berlin Germany that he became unbeatable in the event.
After bagging a gold medal at the championship, the policeman went on to win three others (Daegu 2011, Moscow 2013, Beijing 2015) and in the process became the only runner ever to have won four consecutive world titles.
No other runner has ever attained that remarkable feat in the history of steeplechase running.
For most sportspersons, their careers are not complete until they lay their hands on an Olympic gold medal.
Kemboi, who is an ardent Chelsea fan, made sure he won two of them (Athens 2004, London 2012) before ditching track and field to try his luck in road races.
The man who made the Kalenjin song "Emily Chepchumba" a household name in 2013 during his celebrations, also clinched a Commonwealth Games gold medal in his career.
According to Kemboi, who represented Kenya for over 10 years, winning was not everything to him.
“It didn't bother me when I fail to win a race because my opponents also deserved a chance to win. As a sportsman, everyone is a winner and it is good to accept the results,” ended Kemboi.
Also Read: Ezekiel Kemboi is My Favourite Athlete- Fraser-Pryce