William Yiampoy

William Yiampoy, a member of the Masai tribe, ran the 800 metres at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Yiampoy did not start running until 1996 as he started as a police officer after graduating from Sosio High School in Kilgoris in 1989.

Yiampoy’s biggest international victory was winning the 2001 Goodwill Games 800. He also won gold in the 800 at the 2004 African Championships, after finishing second in that event in 2002. He was third at the 2005 World Championships, fourth at the 2001 Worlds, and fourth at the 2005 World Athletics Final, all in the 800 metres. He ran on a Kenyan 4x800 team that set the world record for that event, running 7:02.43 at the Van Damme Memorial in Bruxelles in 2006.

Yiampoy returned to law enforcement after retiring from athletics and became one of Kenya’s best-known officers.

Personal Best: 800 – 1:42.91 (2002).