{{short description|Kenyan steeplechase runner}} {{infobox sportsperson | image = Benjamin Kigen (KEN).jpg | caption = Kigen in Madrid in 2017 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|7|5}} | nationality = Kenyan | country = Kenya | sport = Track and field | event = 3000 m steeplechase | pb = 8:05.12 (Monaco 2019) | nationals = {{ubl |'''2018 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 2nd {{SilverMedal}} |'''2018 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 4th |'''2019 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 1st {{GoldMedal}} |'''2019 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 1st {{GoldMedal}} |'''2019 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 2nd {{SilverMedal}} |'''2019 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 1st {{GoldMedal}} |'''2022 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 3rd {{BronzeMedal}} |'''2023 Kenyan Champs''' |{{bull}} 3000m s'chase, 5th }} | medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's athletics}} {{Medal|Country|{{flagu|Kenya}}}} {{MedalCompetition|Olympic Games}} {{Medal|Bronze|2020 Tokyo|3000 m st.}} {{MedalCompetition|African Games}} {{Medal|Gold|2019 Rabat|3000 m st.}} {{MedalCompetition|Military World Games}} {{Medal|Gold|2019 Wuhan|3000 m st.}} }}
'''Benjamin Kigen''' (born July 5, 1993) is a Kenyan athlete who competes primarily in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He won the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Kigen took gold at the 2019 All-Africa Games.
He is from Baringo County, Kenya and trains with Amos Kirui under coach Isaac Rono.<ref name=iaaf>{{cite web|url=https://www.iaaf.org/news/feature/benjamin-kigen-kenya-steeplechase|title=Newcomer Kigen shakes up steeplechase status quo}}</ref>
Kigen won the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2018 Prefontaine Classic, beating 2017 world champion Conseslus Kipruto and 2016 Olympic silver medalist Evan Jager with a 57.89 second last lap.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://flashresults.com/2018_Meets/Outdoor/05-25_PrefontaineClassic/014-1-01.htm|title=Prefontaine Classic Men 3000 M Steeplechase (Final)}}</ref>
He qualified to represent Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics,<ref>{{Cite web|last=Olobulu|first=Timothy|date=2021-06-19|title=Conseslus, Timothy Cheruiyot out as Kenya names team for Tokyo Olympics|url=https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2021/06/19/280500/|access-date=2021-06-20|website=Capital Sports|language=en-US}}</ref> where he won the bronze medal in his specialist event with a time of 8:11.45, behind Soufiane El Bakkali (8:08.90) and Lamecha Girma (8:10.38).<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2021-08-02 |title=Kenya's Reign is Over: Soufiane El Bakkali Wins Olympic Men's Steeplechase in Tokyo |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2021/08/kenyas-reign-is-over-soufiane-el-bakkali-wins-olympic-mens-steeplechase-in-tokyo/ |access-date=2021-08-02 |website=LetsRun.com |language=en}}</ref>
His personal best is 8:05.12 (Monaco 2019).
==Achievements== ===International competitions=== {|{{AchievementTable|nationKEN|Event=yes}} |- |rowspan=3|2019 |African Games |Rabat, Morocco |bgcolor=gold|1st |3000 m st. |8:12.39 |- |World Championships |Doha, Qatar |6th |3000 m st. |8:06.95 |- |Military World Games |Wuhan, China |bgcolor=gold|1st |3000 m st. |8:24.50 |- |2021 |Olympic Games |Tokyo, Japan |bgcolor=cc9966|3rd |3000 m st. |8:11.45 |- |rowspan=2|2022 |African Championships |Port Louis, Mauritius |6th |3000 m st. |8:38.83 |- |World Championships |Eugene, OR, United States |19th (h) |3000 m st. |8:22.52 |}
===Circuit wins and titles, National championships=== * Diamond League champion 3000 m steeplechase: 24px 2021<ref>{{Cite web|last=|date=2021-09-09 |title=Wanda Diamond League Final {{!}} Zürich (SUI) {{!}} 8th-9th Sept 2021 |url=https://www.diamondleague.com/fileadmin/IDL_Zurich/user_upload/Results_Diamond_League_2021_Zurich_2021.pdf |access-date=2021-09-09 |website=Diamond League |page=3 }}</ref> :: 3000 metres steeplechase wins, other events specified in parentheses :* 2018: Eugene Prefontaine Classic ({{AthAbbr|PB}}), Rabat Meeting :* 2019: Rome Golden Gala :* 2021: Meeting de Paris, Zürich Weltklasse * Kenyan Athletics Championships ** 3000 m steeplechase: 2019
===Personal bests=== * 800 metres – 1:57.51 (Nairobi 2021) * 1500 metres – 3:36.36 (Madrid 2017) * 3000 metres – 7:54.02 (Baie-Mahault 2018) * 5000 metres – 14:02.78 (Nairobi 2022) * 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:05.12 (Monaco 2019)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} * {{sports links}}
{{Footer All-Africa Champions 3000 m Steeple Men}} {{Footer IAAF Diamond League 3000 Metres Steeplechase Champions Men}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Kigen, Benjamin}} Category:Living people Category:1993 births Category:Kenyan men steeplechase runners Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2019 African Games Category:African Games gold medalists for Kenya Category:Sportspeople from Baringo County Category:African Games gold medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:African Games athletes for Kenya Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic bronze medalists for Kenya Category:Olympic bronze medalists in athletics Category:Olympic athletes for Kenya Category:Diamond League winners Category:Military World Games gold medalists for Kenya Category:Military World Games medalists in athletics (track and field) Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen