Lornah Kiplagat Biography: Husband, Age, Records, Net Worth, Height, Parents, Career

Lornah Kiplagat is an esteemed Dutch long-distance runner and entrepreneur, renowned for her world records and championship titles in road running.

As a four-time world champion and founder of the High Altitude Training Centre in Kenya, she has left an indelible mark on athletics and continues to empower aspiring athletes through her initiatives.

Profile

• Full Name: Lornah Jebiwot Kiplagat
• Stage Name: Lornah Kiplagat
• Born: May 1, 1974
• Age: 51 years old
• Birthplace: Kabiemit, Rift Valley Province, Kenya
• Nationality: Dutch (Kenyan-born)
• Occupation: Dutch Long-Distance Runner, Entrepreneur
• Height: 5’9
• Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Kiplagat
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Pieter Langerhorst
• Children: None
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $100,000 to $5 million

Early Life and Education

Lornah Kiplagat was born on May 1, 1974, in Kabiemit, a small village in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province. Named Jebiwot, meaning “girl born while it was raining,” she grew up on her family’s farm, raised by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Kiplagat.

Her father, progressive for his time, encouraged equality among his children, fostering Lornah’s independence and ambition. Inspired by her cousin, Susan Sirma, a 1991 World Championship bronze medalist, Lornah developed a passion for running while chasing goats and completing her 5.5km school journey on foot.

She turned down a medical scholarship to India at age 20 to pursue athletics, moving to live with Sirma to hone her talent. Details about her formal education are scarce, as her focus shifted early to running. Her ethnicity is Kenyan, and no public information exists about her religious beliefs.

Career

Lornah Kiplagat’s running career is distinguished by world records and championship victories. She began competing internationally in 1997, winning her first major race, the Los Angeles Marathon, despite it being her longest distance at the time.

Representing Kenya until 2003, she became the first woman to win both the Falmouth Road Race and Peachtree Road Race, achieving this feat four times (2000–2002, 2005). After gaining Dutch citizenship in 2003, she competed for the Netherlands, finishing fifth in the 10,000m at the 2004 Athens Olympics and fourth at the 2003 World Championships.

Her pinnacle year was 2007, when she won the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa and set world records in the half marathon (1:06:25) and 20km (1:02:57) at the World Road Running Championships in Udine, defending her title from 2006. She also held world records in the 5km (14:47) and 10-mile (50:50) road races.

Kiplagat’s marathon victories include Rotterdam (2000), Amsterdam (2000), Osaka (2002, 2005), and Los Angeles (2003, 2005). She competed in three Olympics (Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012), though an injury forced her to withdraw from the 2012 marathon.

After retiring from competitive running in 2017, she focused on entrepreneurship, founding the High Altitude Training Centre (HATC) in Iten, Kenya, and launching Lornah Sports, an African-inspired women’s sportswear brand designed with functionality and style in mind. Her work continues to support young athletes, particularly women, in pursuing their dreams.

Awards and Nominations

• IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Mombasa 2007: Gold Medal, Women’s Long Race
• World Road Running Championships, 2006–2008: Gold Medal, Half Marathon (three consecutive titles)
• World Half Marathon Championships, 2005: Silver Medal
• World Cross Country Championships, 2006: Silver Medal, Long Race
• Millennium Shoe Award, United Nations: Recognized for contributions to athletics
• Abebe Bikila Award: Honored for excellence in long-distance running

Kiplagat’s four world records (5km, 10-mile, 20km, half marathon) and marathon victories underscore her legacy as a trailblazer in road running.

Social Media

Instagram Handle: @lornahkiplagat

Personal Life

Lornah Kiplagat, an esteemed long-distance runner, balancing her entrepreneurial ventures with her passion for running. She married Dutchman Pieter Langerhorst in 1999, whom she met when he supplied her running equipment. The couple has no children, and their relationship remains strong, rooted in mutual support for her athletic and business endeavors.

Kiplagat’s upbringing in a gender-equal household shaped her commitment to empowering women, leading her to establish a refuge and run a camp for Kenyan girls in Iten. Her vibrant personality and dedication to helping others have earned her admiration, with peers describing her as a “perfect friend” who uplifts those around her.

She enjoys designing colorful sportswear and finds inspiration in her Kenyan heritage, often citing her favorite book, Desert Flower by Waris Dirie, for its message of resilience.

Net Worth

Lornah Kiplagat, an esteemed long-distance runner, has an estimated net worth between the range of $100,000 to $5 million. Her income likely stems from prize money, sponsorships, and her ventures, including the High Altitude Training Centre and Lornah Sports. Specific financial details are unavailable due to her private approach to personal matters.