Francis Kirwa

Francis Chepsiror Kirwa (born November 28, 1974 in Rift Valley Province, Kenya) is a Finnish marathon runner of Kenyan origin.[1] In 2005, he adopted Finnish nationality in order to compete internationally in the marathon, and run for his home nation at the IAAF World Championships in Helsinki. He also set a personal best of 2:11:01 by winning the gold medal at the Maratona Sant’Antonio in Padua, Italy.[2]

Francis Kirwa
Kirwa in 2006
Personal information
Full nameFrancis Chepsiror Kirwa
Nationality Finland
Born (1974-11-28) 28 November 1974
Rift Valley Province, Kenya
ResidenceLahti, Finland
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 1⁄2 in)
Weight60 kg (132 lb)
Sport
SportAthletics
Event(s)Marathon
ClubLahden Ahkera (FIN)
Coached byTimo Vuorimaa
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Marathon: 2:11:01 (2008)

Kirwa represented his adopted nation Finland at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, where he competed for the men's marathon. He successfully finished the race in fourteenth place by twenty-two seconds behind Spain's José Manuel Martínez, outside his personal best time of 2:14:22.[3]

Kirwa currently resides in Lahti, since he left from Kenya in 2002. He also trains full-time for marathon and cross-country races at Lahden Ahkera, under his personal and head coach Timo Vuorimaa.

References
  1. "Francis Kirwa". 20 December 2012. Archived from the original on 16 December 2012. Retrieved 2012-12-20.
  2. Sampaolo, Diego (27 April 2008). "Battling hot conditions, Kirwa takes commanding victory at Padua Marathon". IAAF. Retrieved 20 December 2012.
  3. "Men's Marathon". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2012.


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