Brahim Boutayeb

Brahim Boutayeb was little known before the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and even then was considered more of a 5,000 metre runner. In the 10,000 m final at Seoul, the pace was fast from the outset, pushed mostly by the Kenyan pair of Kipkemboi Kimeli, and Moses Tanui. The halfway point was reached in world record pace, when Boutayeb moved into the lead. He continued to set a fast pace, but slowed at the bell, finishing in what was then the world’s fourth fastest time of 27:21.46.

After the Olympics, Boutayeb returned to shorter distances, recording PRs in distances from 1,500 m to 5,000 m over the couple of next seasons, and won a bronze medal in the 5K at the 1991 World Championships. At the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, Boutayeb placed fourth in the 5,000. After being eliminated in his heat of the 5K at the 1993 Worlds, Boutayeb gave up the competitive athletics and concentrated on a new sporting interest, racing as a rally driver.

Personal Bests: 5000 – 13:10.44 (1991); 10000 – 27:21.46 (1988).