Born in Kenya in 1974, Bernard Lagat is a world-renowned athlete who dominated the 1,500 and 5,000 metres race categories back in his heydays.
Lagat flew the Kenyan flag in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, winning a silver and bronze medal respectively in the 1,500 metres events.
In 2008, 2012, and 2016, the athlete represented the United States after switching citizenship and becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen.
"The two gold medals in 2007 was the best performance ever for me. I was able to represent the United States for the first time and I didn't come home with just one medal but two. Two gold medals," Lagat told Spikes, an American sports publication.
Throughout his decorated career, Lagat won multiple medals. He attributed his success to one key trait: patience. Lagat firmly believed that exercising patience was instrumental in his quest for victory on the track.
"You have to be patient. All of us should have patience while working so hard towards our goals. I think that is the thing that has actually set me aside," Lagat explained.
Currently, the 48-year-old is the head coach of the University of Arizona's cross-country program.
At 35, Lagat wrote history when he became the first man to win world indoor titles while representing two countries. Conversely, Lagat's triumph also placed him as the oldest men's gold medalist in the history of the championships, solidifying his stature as a bonafide legend of the sport.
Demonstrating his commitment to give back to the community, the athlete established the Lagat Foundation which provides Kenyan students with financial assistance.
In 2010, Lagat was named the Humanitarian of the Year by U.S. Track & Field (USATF).
As a young boy growing up in Kapsabet, Lagat would run to school every morning following in the footsteps of his siblings.
"Even when I was a little boy, I was seeing running in my family. I was seeing my older sisters and my brother running. And I thought this meant family, and it is something that I love doing," he stated.
After high school, he proceeded to the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) before being offered a scholarship by the Washington State University in Pullman to study business management.
On Thursday, June 29, 2023, Lagat was named to the “Great Immigrant, Great American” list by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
The corporation recognises exemplary contributions of immigrants to American life. He was among 34 talents recognised by the corporation.
“The Great Immigrants initiative is a tribute to the legacy of Andrew Carnegie, a Scottish immigrant who, like these honorees, found success in America, contributed enormously to his adopted country, and inspired others to do the same,” stated Dame Louise Richardson, president of Carnegie Corporation of New York.
