Who is Abubaker Kaki Khamis

"Everything else is on hold now as I go for an Olympic win, but I need to help my family." --Abubaker Kaki Khamis

Abubaker Kaki Khamis, "Kaki", was born on June 21, 1989 in Elmuglad, Sudan. He is a member of the Misseriya tribe, better known for its Arab militias that have killed and raped thousands.

Kaki was discovered by Jama Aden who saw him finish 25th at a cross country race, but thought he saw talent in him. He invited Kaki to join the national team and he quickly shifted his focus to the middle distances. He lifts weights using paint cans filled with cement, and can only train during the day, as there are no floodlights at the training facilities.

In 2005, despite being just sixteen years old, Kaki finished 3rd at the World Youth Championships 1,500 meters, running a time of 3:45.06. Later that year he finished 7th at the African Junior Championships 800 meters in 1:50.30. Shortly thereafter he ran a personal best of 1:48.43.

Kaki's 1,500 meter times did not improve in 2006, as he ran just 3:47.58 that April. He did improve in the 800 meters, however, running a personal best 1:45.78. In his one championship meet that year he placed 6th in the World Junior Championships 800 meters in a time of 1:48.46.

Kaki competed in the World Championships in Osaka in 2007, but finished 6th in his heat (1:46.38) and failed to qualify for the final. He did run a big personal best that year in Al Qahirah, however, where he clocked 1:43.90, just missing the junior world record.

In February 2008 Kaki ran a World Leading 2:15.77 in the 1,000 meters indoors in Sweden. On March 9th, 2008 in Valencia, he followed that up by becoming the youngest ever World Indoor champion after winning the 800 meter final at age 18 years and 262 days. His time of 1:44.81 was the 11th fastest 800 meters ever run indoors, and put him 5th on the list of all-time indoor performers.

On June 3, Kaki ran a personal best at 1,500 meters in Malmo, Sweden, running 3:39.71. Then, on June 6, 2008 he won the Bislett Games Golden League meet in Oslo by running 1:42.69, a new World Junior Record and the fastest time in 5 years. The previous record (1:43.64) was set by Japheth Kimutai of Kenya in 1997. For his victory, Kaki received land and money from the government of Sudan.

On June 10, Kaki continued his success in the 800 meters in Ostrava with a time of 1:43.80. On July 11, Kaki won the 800 meters at the Junior World Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland in a time of 1:45.60. On July 22, Kaki won the 1000m race in Stockholm with a personal best and stadium record 2:13.93.

In Beijing, Kaki won his first Olympic prelim in a time of 1:46.98. He finished 8th (1:49.19) in his semifinal, however, and failed to qualify for the final.

Sources: Alltime-Athletics, Wikipedia, IAAF, Yahoo News, cbc.ca

Kaki won his first race of 2009, the 1000m in Stuttgart, with a time of 2:16.23. He followed it up with another 1000m victory in Stockholm, running 2:17.56. He opened outdoors winning the 800m at the IAAF Super Grand Prix in Doha, Qatar, clocking 1:43.09. He followed it up with a win in Hengelo in 1:43.10. He then won Turin, tying the meet record in 1:44.25. In Berlin, Kaki finished 2nd in his prelim, running 1:46.41.

Kaki opened up his 2010 season with an indoor 800m victory at Stuttgart, running 1:46.47.

Sources: Alltime-Athletics, Wikipedia, IAAF, Yahoo News, cbc.ca

"My idol is Kipketer. I would like to run like him. I met him at the African championships. I finally met my idol. But for doubling Sebastian Coe was a tremendous athlete, even though he didn't win the 800 title he won the 1,500 twice." --Abubaker Kaki Khamis

Championships

2007 All-Africa Games 800m (1:45.22)
2008 World Indoor Championships 800m (1:44.81)
2008 World Junior Championships 800m (1:45.60)

Personal Bests

1:42.69 - 800m - Oslo (2008)
2:13.93 - 1000m - Stockholm (2008)
3:39.71 - 1500m - Malmo (2008)

Sources: Alltime-Athletics, Wikipedia, IAAF, cbc.ca

800 Meters

01. 1:41.11 - Wilson Kipketer (DEN) - Koln (1997)
02. 1:41.73 - Sebastian Coe (GBR) - Florence (1981)
03. 1:41.77 - Joaquim Cruz (BRA) - Koln (1984)
04. 1:42.28 - Sammy Koskei (KEN) - Koln (1984)
05. 1:42.34 - Wilfred Bungei (KEN) - Rieti (2002)
06. 1:42.47 - Yuriy Borzakovskiy (RUS) - Brussels (2001)
07. 1:42.55 - Andre Bucher (SUI) - Zurich (2001)
08. 1:42.58 - Vebjørn Rodal (NOR) - Atlanta (1996)
09. 1:42.60 - Johnny Gray (USA) - Koblenz (1985)
10. 1:42.62 - Patrick Ndururi (KEN) - Zurich (1997)
11. 1:42.69 - Hezekiel Sepeng (RSA) - Brussels (1999)
12. 1:42.69 - Japheth Kimutai (KEN) - Brussels (1999)
13. 1:42.69 - Abubaker Kaki Khamis (SUD) - Oslo (2008)
14. 1:42.79 - Frederick Onyancha (KEN) - Atlanta (1996)
14. 1:42.79 - Youssef Saad Kamel (BRN) - Monaco (2008)
16. 1:42.81 - Jean-Patrick Nduwimana (BDI) - Zurich (2001)
17. 1:42.85 - Norberto Téllez (CUB) - Atlanta (1996)
18. 1:42.88 - Steve Cram (GBR) - Zurich (1985)
19. 1:42.89 - Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (RSA) - Brussels (2003)
20. 1:42.91 - William Yiampoy (KEN) - Rieti (2001)

1,000 Meters

01. 2:11.96 - Noah Ngeny (KEN) - Rieti (1999)
02. 2:12.18 - Sebastian Coe (GBR) - Oslo (1981)
03. 2:12.88 - Steve Cram (GBR) - Gateshead (1985)
04. 2:13.56 - Kenneth Kimwetich (KEN) - Nice (1999)
05. 2:13.73 - Noureddine Morceli (ALG) - Villeneuve d'Ascq (1993)
06. 2:13.9x - Rick Wohlhuter (USA) - Oslo (1974)
07. 2:13.93 - Abubaker Kaki Khamis (SUD) - Stockholm (2008)
08. 2:13.96 - Mehdi Baala (FRA) - Strasbourg (2003)
09. 2:14.09 - Joaquim Cruz (BRA) - Nice (1984)
10. 2:14.28 - Japheth Kimutai (KEN) - Stockholm (2000)
11. 2:14.41 - William Yiampoy (KEN) - Rieti (1999)
12. 2:14.43 - Laban Rotich (KEN) - Nice (1997)
13. 2:14.50 - Abdi Bile (SOM) - Jerez de la Frontera (1989)
14. 2:14.52 - Djabir Said-Guerni (ALG) - Rieti (1999)
15. 2:14.53 - Willi Wülbeck (FRG) - Oslo (1980)
16. 2:14.69 - Mahjoub Haïda (MAR) - Nice (1995)
17. 2:14.72 - Youssef Saad Kamel (BRN) - Stockholm (2008)
18. 2:14.73 - Joseph Tengelei (KEN) - Nice (1995)
18. 2:14.73 - Patrick Konchellah (KEN) - Stockholm (2000)
20. 2:14.95 - Sammy Koskei (KEN) - Brussels (1985)

Sources: All-time Athletics