View source for Bob Kempainen

{{short description|American long-distance runner}}
'''Robert Kempainen''' (born June 18, 1966, in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]]) is an American retired two-time Olympian [[long-distance runner]]. He participated in the [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]] ([[Barcelona, Spain]]) and in [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]] ([[Atlanta, United States]]) Olympics.

He made his marathon debut in 1991 at the [[Twin Cities Marathon]] in Minnesota, where he finished 2nd in 2:12:12. In 1992, he qualified for the Olympic Games by running a 2:12:54 for third place in the [[Olympic Trials]] marathon, held in [[Columbus, Ohio]]. He finished 2nd at the 1993 [[New York City Marathon]] in a time of 2:11:03.  His best time for the marathon was 2:08:47 at the 1994 [[Boston Marathon]], where he finished 7th. In 1995, he finished 2nd at the Los Angeles Marathon, in a time of 2:11:59. He was the 1996 Olympic Trials Marathon (held in [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], North Carolina) champion, winning in a time of 2:12:45.

In other USA distance running championships, Kempainen was also the 1990 [[USA Cross Country Championships|US National Cross Country Champion]].

A graduate of [[Dartmouth College]] and [[University of Minnesota Medical School]], Dr. Kempainen currently holds a position  at [[Hennepin County Medical Center]] where he practices as a pulmonologist and critical care physician, he is also the current course director of Human Health and Disease 1,  a second year medical school course at the [[University of Minnesota]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pacc.umn.edu/faculty/kempainen/home.html |title=Robert R. Kempainen, MD - MED - DOM - Pulmonary Allergy Sleep Med, University of Minnesota |access-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123033250/http://www.pacc.umn.edu/faculty/kempainen/home.html |archive-date=2011-11-23 }}</ref>

==Achievements==
* <small>All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise</small>
{| {{AchievementTable}}
|-
! colspan="5" | Representing the {{USA}}
|-
| 1992
| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
| [[Barcelona, Spain]]
| 17th
| [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2:15:53]]
|-
| 1996
| [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]
| [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta, United States]]
| 31st
| [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon|2:18:38]]
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* [http://www.legacy.usatf.org/athletes/bios/TrackAndFieldArchive/1997/kempainen.htm Bob Kempainen] profile at [[USATF]]
* [http://www.wikirun.com/Bob_Kempainen WikiRun Encyclopedia]
* https://web.archive.org/web/20111123033250/http://www.pacc.umn.edu/faculty/kempainen/home.html
* [https://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/a20836918/he-made-headlines-by-throwing-up-now-he-cares-for-others/]

{{Footer US NC Marathon Men}}
{{Footer US NC Cross Country Men}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1992 Summer Olympics}}
{{Footer USA Track & Field 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kempainen, Bob}}
[[Category:1966 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic track and field athletes for the United States]]
[[Category:Track and field athletes from Minneapolis]]
[[Category:University of Minnesota Medical School alumni]]
[[Category:Dartmouth College alumni]]
[[Category:American people of Finnish descent]]
[[Category:20th-century American sportsmen]]


{{US-longdistance-athletics-bio-stub}}