He spent the first two-thirds of the 3,000-meter men’s steeplechase race at the back of the pack. He was so far from the leaders that even on a wide pan, the TV cameras couldn’t pick him up. Those leaders, by the way, included defending gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco and a contingent from Kenya, which had won all but three Olympic gold medals in men’s steeplechase since 1968.

The USA  has just two medals in 40 years prior to Rooks’ silver performance. Brian Diemer took bronze in 1984 and Evan Jager claimed silver in 2016.

“I must admit my focus was on El Bakkali and [Ethiopian world record holder Lamecha] Girma. I didn’t think much about Kenneth,”bronze medalist Kibiwot Abraham said. “That was a surprise.”

“My goal was to conserve as much energy as possible and stay within striking distance,” Kenneth said. “I was nervous, especially with where I positioned myself. But we were all in it, especially as the race got later.”

(Ed Eyestone) BYU track coach Ed Eyestone, left, celebrates a silver-medal performance with former Cougar Kenneth Rooks, who surprised many in Wednesday’s steeplechase in Paris, France.

The tall, lithe El Bakkali overtook Kennrth on the final barrier. Yet Kenneth face wrought with determination, fought off a challenge from Abraham in the closing meters to clinch the silver.

 

Soufiane El Bakkali, of Morocco, right, won the gold medal, Kenneth Rooks, of the United States, center, won the silver medal, and Abraham Kibiwot, of Kenya, won the bronze medal in the men’s 3000-meters steeplechase final at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024, in Saint-Denis, Paris, France.

Who Is Kenneth Rooks?

Kenneth Rooks was born on  October 21, 1999, In Washington, United State Of America.

is an American track and field athlete and he is 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) tall.

Rooks attended College Place High School in College Place, Washington.

Rooks spent his first two years of college at Brigham Young University in Kampala, Uganda as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

He recorded a new personal best in the 3000 m steeplechase, running 8:17.62 in Walnut, California on May 6, 2023, . It was the second-fastest ever by a collegian and the fastest time in the world at the time. It also broke a 46-year-old school record set by Henry Marsh.

He won the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships title in the 3000 m steeplechase, at the event held in Austin, Texas In June 2023, and it was a new stadium record.

He finished first in the final of the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2023 USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, in Eugene, Oregon.

He won despite falling during the race and having to work himself back to the front. He said he mentally prepared for how he would react if he fell during a race and took inspiration from former national champion Henry Marsh, who would often race from the back of the field.

He won a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in the 3000 m steeplechase with a new personal best time of 8:06.41.

Rook’s partner is Taylor Human, they got engaged in October 2023, he wrote on his Instagram post “So blessed to have fallen in love with you @tay.human. So grateful that you want to marry me. I am a lucky man!”