Edmund Serem Wins Bronze in 3000m Steeplechase at World Championships

Edmund Serem, a 17-year-old Kenyan athlete, wins bronze in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, showcasing his promising talent.

“The whole season I was participating in the Diamond Leagues and I managed to finish on the podium in all of them...”

Kenyan athlete Edmund Serem made a promising start to his senior career, clinching a bronze medal in the men's 3,000m steeplechase final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The 17-year-old phenom clocked 8:34.56, finishing behind New Zealand's Geordie Beamish, who claimed gold with a time of 8:33.88, and defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco, who took silver with a time of 8:33.95. Serem believes this achievement marks the beginning of good things to come.

Serem had a strong run, starting aggressively and frequently swapping first and second place during the early stages of the race. Although he briefly slipped back to fifth and sixth positions as the pace intensified and the big guns began surging forward, he summoned a late burst in the final 100 meters to power into third place.

The bronze medal not only showcases Serem's talent but also highlights Kenya's continued dominance in the steeplechase event. Kenyan President William Ruto congratulated Serem, saying, “With such rising talent, Kenya's future in athletics is secure.” Other leaders, including Health CS Aden Duale and Interior PS Raymond Omollo, also praised Serem's achievement, with Omollo stating that Serem's success assures Kenyans that athletics legacy is safe.

🥉🇰🇪 Edmund Serem pulled it off in STYLE ,a last-minute surge when it mattered most to snatch Bronze in the 3000m Steeplechase! 💥💨#TeamKenya’s 3rd medal at the World Championships and the momentum is only building! 🫡👏#TeamKenya #WorldAthleticsChamps
📸 Kelly Ayodi pic.twitter.com/Vhj281ntlJ

— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) September 15, 2025

This achievement adds to Kenya's medal tally in Tokyo, which currently stands at three. Serem's performance demonstrates Kenya's depth in distance running and suggests a bright future for the country's athletics.

“We have been dominating steeplechase for many years, and for this medal, I am very sure Kenyans are very happy, and it is the beginning of good things to come,” said Serem.

He added, “I am very happy to get a medal. I promised Kenyans that I will get a medal and I did. I was aiming for a gold but nonetheless I am happy for this bronze. I am here to stay and promise to dominate for a very long time.

“The whole season I was participating in the Diamond Leagues and I managed to finish on the podium in all of them. When I came here I knew something was coming, but it would be a tough journey.”

He concluded: “At the start of the race, I was very anxious because of the massive crowd in the stadium, as well as running alongside the world record holders, but I maintained my composure. I drew my encouragement from my mentor, Eliud Kipchoge.

“He called me today and told me, ‘You are going to do this.”

Edmund Serem's Promise

Edmund Serem, a 17-year-old Kenyan athlete, has made a statement with his bronze medal win in the 3,000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. “It is the beginning of good things to come,” Serem said, hinting at his readiness to dominate the event for years. His impressive performance showcases his potential, following his gold medal win in the 2000m steeplechase at the 2023 African U18 Championships in Ndola, Zambia. With this achievement, Serem signals his intent to become a force to be reckoned with in the athletics world.

He competed in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 Xiamen Diamond League event in China, in April 2025, running a personal best time of 8:08.50. The following weekend, he secured second place in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 Shanghai Diamond League, running a time of 8:08.68.

In May 2025, he ran a new personal best of 8:07.47 to finish third in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme de Rabat, also part of the 2025 Diamond League, and followed that with a steeplechase win at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 31st, 2025.