Bernard Lagat: Story of Award-Winning Athlete Working as a Coach in the US

Bernard Lagat, born in Kenya in 1974, is a world-renowned athlete who dominated in the 1,500 and 5,000 metres race categories. 

He flew the Kenyan flag in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, earning a silver and bronze medal in the 1,500 metres events respectively. When he became a naturalized U.S. citizen, Lagat represented the U.S. in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Games. Throughout his career, Lagat won many medals, which he attributes to his patience. 

The 48-year-old is the head coach of the University of Arizona's cross-country program. In a remarkable feat, he became the first man to win world indoor titles for two countries when he was 35, also becoming the oldest men's gold medalist in the history of the championships. To give back to his community, the athlete founded the Lagat Foundation, which provides Kenyan students with financial assistance. In 2010, Lagat was even acknowledged for his efforts as Humanitarian of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field (USATF). 

Growing up in Kapsabet, Lagat would routinely trot to school in the morning, following the same path as his siblings. After high school, he attended Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) before securing a scholarship from Washington State University in Pullman where he studied business management. 

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, Lagat was included in the “Great Immigrant, Great American” list by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. This organization celebrates the extraordinary accomplishments of immigrants in the US. He was among the 34 talents celebrated by the corporation.