Saif Saaeed Shaheen
QATMenSaif Saaeed Shaheen, formerly known as Stephen Cherono, is a retired steeplechase runner born on 15 October 1982 in Keiyo, Kenya. He competed for Qatar and held the world record in the 3000 metres steeplechase for 19 years. He is a two-time World Champion in the event, and his older brother Abraham Cherono is also a steeplechase runner.
Shaheen won the steeplechase at the 2002 Commonwealth Games while still representing Kenya, then switched allegiance to Qatar in 2003 and immediately won the World Championship title. A dispute with the Kenyan Athletics Federation made him ineligible for the 2004 Olympics, but he set the world record of 7:53.63 minutes in Brussels just ten days after the Olympic final and defeated that year's Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi at the World Athletics Final. He was also the 1999 World Youth Champion and set a world junior record in the steeplechase.
In 2006, Shaheen won the 3000 metres silver at the World Indoor Championships and completed a 5000 metres and steeplechase double at the IAAF World Cup, while setting multiple Asian records. Serious injuries kept him out of competition from late 2006 to 2008, and although he returned in 2009 and 2010, he was unable to recapture his former level and retired from the sport.
As of Sep 12, 2026: 3000 m steeplechase 7:53.63 (#2 all-time), 5000 m 12:48.81 (#31 all-time), 2010 season best 8:09.63 (Aug 19, 2010, Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)) · World Championships: 2 gold · Area record (3000 m steeplechase) · 43 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | 2 | - | - | 2 |