Robert Kempainen (born June 18, 1966, in

Minneapolis, Minnesota Minneapolis () is the largest city in Minnesota, United States, and the county seat of Hennepin County. The city is abundant in water, with thirteen lakes, wetlands, the Mississippi River, creeks and waterfalls. Minneapolis has its origins ...

) is a retired two-time Olympian

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength. Within e ...

from the United States. He participated in the

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: 1992 Los Angeles riots, Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the Police brutality, police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment buildi ...

(

Barcelona, Spain Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

) and in Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics, 1996 (Atlanta, United States) Olympics. He made his marathon debut in 1991 at the Twin Cities Marathon in Minnesota, where he finished 2nd in 2:12:12. In 1992, he qualified for the Olympic Games by running a 2:12:54 for third place in the Olympic Trials marathon, held in Columbus, Ohio. He finished 2nd at the 1993 New York City Marathon in a time of 2:11:03. His best time for the marathon was 2:08:47 at the 1994 Boston Marathon, where he finished 7th. In 1995, he finished 2nd at the Los Angeles Marathon, in a time of 2:11:59. He was the 1996 Olympic Trials Marathon (held in Charlotte, North Carolina, Charlotte, North Carolina) champion, winning in a time of 2:12:45. In other USA distance running championships, Kempainen was also the 1990 USA Cross Country Championships, US National Cross Country Champion. A graduate of Dartmouth College and University of Minnesota Medical School, Dr. Kempainen currently holds a position at Hennepin County Medical Center where he practices as a pulmonologist and critical care physician, he is also the current course director of Human Health and Disease 1, a second year medical school course at the University of Minnesota.

Achievements

* All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise

References

Bob Kempainen
profile at USATF
WikiRun Encyclopedia
* https://web.archive.org/web/20111123033250/http://www.pacc.umn.edu/faculty/kempainen/home.html

1966 births Living people American male long-distance runners Athletes (track and field) at the 1992 Summer Olympics Athletes (track and field) at the 1996 Summer Olympics Olympic track and field athletes of the United States Track and field athletes from Minneapolis American people of Finnish descent {{US-longdistance-athletics-bio-stub