© Stade de France ®
Macary, Zublena et Regembal
Costantini - Architects
ADAGP - Paris - 2002
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COMPETITION  EVENTS |
 HORSE RIDING WITHOUT THE HORSES
Paris 2003 Saint-Denis
Originally inspired by cross-country horse riding, the 3,000m steeplechase is very much a discipline apart. Not content with racing full pelt around the track for 7 ½ laps, steeplechasers really reveal their masochistic tendencies by jumping a series of energy-sapping jumps and obstacles.
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| Vandystadt |
A bit of steeplechase history
Legend has it that the steeplechase was invented by a group of Oxford students one November evening in 1850. The original idea had been to settle a wager over the outcome of a horse race, but the terrain was so muddy that the young gentlemen preferred not to risk injuring their costly steeds. Instead, Halifax Wyatt came up with the novel idea of settling the bet by running the steeplechase themselves, over a two mile course on local meadows near Oxford that included 24 jumps over hedges and water-filled ditches. Much fun was had in that first informal challenge, so much so that a proper race was organised a few days later - and an athletics discipline was born. By 1864, the steeplechase had become one of the most popular of the legendary annual Varsity meeting.
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| Vandystadt |
The steeplechase became an Olympic event at Paris in 1900 when it was raced over 2,500m and 4,000m. The English dominated up until the 1920s when the Finns, traditionally strong over middle and long-distances, turned their attention to the event. Scandinavian steeplechase supremacy ensued until after the war. Then, in 1954 the IAAF laid down a series of standard rules for the event and official world records began to fall; Pole Jerzy Chromik set 8.41.20 for the distance in 1955; by 1965 Belgian Gaston Roelants had lowered that mark to 8.26.40, before Swedish legend Anders Gaerderud ran 8.20.80 in 1972. The African continent then picked up the mantle in the 70s with Kipchoge Keino and especially Benjamin Jipcho coming to the fore. And despite periodic challenges from outsiders like Sweden’s Anders Gaerderud, the mother continent still dominates to this day.
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| Vandystadt |
Steepling
A good 3,000 m steeplechaser must boast uncommon physical ability but also possess a keen tactical eye. The 28 obstacles measure between 91.1 and 91.7 cm in height and 3.06 m in width. The much-feared water jump measures 3.66 m long and is 70 cm deep. A typical “steeple” race involves constant changes of pace and a good deal of jostling for position in the lead up to a jump – not for the feint hearted!
The greats
Volmari Iso-Hollo (FIN): the first truly great steepler. In 1932 in Los Angeles Volmari won a bronze medal over 10,000 m and then bagged the 3,000 m steeple gold a few days later. After breaking the Olympic record of 9.14.06 in the heats the Finn went on to win the final with a very pedestrian time indeed: 10.33.04! In fact, the judge had miscounted the laps and Volmari ran one more than everybody else! He retained his Olympic crown 4 years later in Berlin.
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| Moses Kiptanui Vandystadt |
Moses Kiptanui (KEN): the first man to go under 8 minutes (7.59.18 in 1995). World 3 000 m steeple Champion in 1991, 1993 and 1995 (2nd in 1997). His big regret is that no Olympic gold sits in his trophy cabinet: injured at the time of the Barcelona Games in 1996, Kiptanui had to be content with the silver in Atlanta four years later.
World Record
Brahim Boulami (MAR) : 7.53.17
Programme
Heats: Saturday 23 August, 7pm
Final : Tuesday 26 August, 9.35pm
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