Augustine Kiprono Choge
A Kenyan distance runner whose fierce finishing kick and tactical brilliance made him a feared competitor on the global circuit for over a decade.
Born 1987 (age 39)·Kenyan runner·Birthday: January 21·Millennials
Biography
Augustine Choge emerged from the rich running soil of Kenya's Rift Valley not as a marathoner, but as a middle-distance dynamo with the heart of a lion. He announced himself to the world by winning the 2005 World Cross Country Championships short race, a victory that signaled his explosive speed. Choge specialized in the 1500m and 5000m, becoming a constant presence in Diamond League finals and World Championship finals. His racing was characterized by a potent combination: he could sit in the pack with the patience of a veteran, then unleash a devastating final lap that left rivals stranded. While an individual global outdoor title eluded him, he was a cornerstone of Kenyan teams, anchoring relay victories and claiming World Indoor gold over 3000 meters. His career longevity was remarkable, transitioning successfully to road racing later on. Choge's legacy is that of the consummate track tactician, a man who understood the geometry of the race as well as he understood his own punishing pace.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Augustine was born in 1987, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Augustine Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Augustine's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2000Became a teenager
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the gold medal in the 3000m at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha.
- Secured the 2005 IAAF World Cross Country Championships title in the short race (4km).
- Claimed the 5000m Diamond League trophy in 2011, triumphing in the season-long series.
- Earned an Olympic silver medal as part of the Kenyan 4x1500m relay team at the 2012 London Games (though this medal was subject to later team disqualification and reinstatement).
Did You Know?
He served as a pacemaker for fellow Kenyan David Rudisha's world record 800m run at the 2012 London Olympics.
Choge is known for his distinctive, upright running posture and powerful stride.
He won the prestigious 5000m at the Bislett Games in Oslo, a classic Diamond League event, in 2011.
“The track is truth; it tells you exactly what you have done.”
