With about 300 metres to go in the final, Mekhissi-Benabbad passed Ezekiel Kemboi, then Paul Kipsiele Koech and became jointly in the lead with Conseslus Kipruto.
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Coincidentally, the last non-Kenyan to do so was a Frenchman - Joseph Mahmoud - who won the silver medal at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles.
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Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (born March 15, 1985 in Reims) is a French middle-distance runner who mainly competes in the 3000 metres steeplechase.