View source for Paul Bitok

{{short description|Kenyan long-distance runner}}
{{about-distinguish|Kenyan long distance runner|Paul Bitok (volleyball)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
{{MedalTableTop|sport=Men's [[athletics (sport)|athletics]]|nation=KEN|medals=
{{Medal|Competition | [[Athletics at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] }}
{{Medal|Silver | [[1992 Summer Olympics|1992 Barcelona]] | [[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 metres]] }}
{{Medal|Silver | [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]] | [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 5000 metres|5000 metres]] }}
}}

'''Paul Bitok''' (born 26 June 1970 in [[Kilibwoni]], [[Nandi District|Nandi]]) is a Kenyan long-distance runner, who won two silver medals at consecutive [[Summer Olympics]] ([[Athletics at the 1992 Summer Olympics|1992]], [[Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics|1996]]) over [[5000 metres]].

==Life==
Bitok emerged in 1992 as a relatively unknown athlete. He qualified for the [[1992 Summer Olympics|Barcelona Games]] at the Kenyan trials and defeated several world class athletes at the [[Bislett Games]] in Oslo. By the time of the Olympics he had established himself as one of the favourites. He narrowly lost the final to [[Dieter Baumann]] of Germany. A few weeks later he won the 5000 m race in Zurich. In the following years Bitok did not match his performances of 1992. However, by 1996 he was back and won another silver in Atlanta. He also won two World Indoor silvers ([[1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1997]], [[1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships|1999]]) in the 3000 metres behind [[Haile Gebrselassie]].{{citation needed|date=July 2022}}

He is married to [[Pauline Konga]], who won the silver medal in women's 5000 metres at the [[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Olympics]], becoming the first Kenyan female Olympic medalist.<ref name="pathfinders">Post-Gazette, May 6, 2002: [http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/other/20020506path0506p6.asp The Pathfinders]</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{World Athletics}}

{{Footer African Champions men's 5000 metres}}
{{Footer Australia NC 1500m Men}}
{{Footer Australia NC 5000 m Men}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitok, Paul}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Athletes from Nandi County]]
[[Category:Kenyan male long-distance runners]]
[[Category:Kenyan male middle-distance runners]]
[[Category:Olympic athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists for Kenya]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1996 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 1992 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:World Athletics Championships athletes for Kenya]]
[[Category:Olympic silver medalists in athletics (track and field)]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 2001 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Competitors at the 1994 Goodwill Games]]
[[Category:Goodwill Games gold medalists in athletics]]
[[Category:Australian Athletics Championships winners]]
[[Category:20th-century Kenyan sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century Kenyan sportsmen]]


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{{Kenya-Olympic-medalist-stub}}