athon . ▁ ▁Athletics ▁career ▁Born ▁in ▁Br id g end , ▁Wales , ▁he ▁was ▁affili ated ▁with ▁the ▁City ▁of ▁She ff ield ▁Athlet ic ▁Club ▁in ▁England ▁during ▁his ▁career . ▁He ▁gained ▁Canadian ▁citizens hip ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁after ▁living ▁in ▁there ▁since ▁ 1 9 9 6 ; ▁but ▁continued ▁to ▁make ▁himself ▁available ▁for ▁Britain ▁until ▁switching ▁sport ing ▁alleg iance ▁at ▁the ▁start ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁Ear lier ▁in ▁his ▁running ▁career ▁he ▁competed ▁for ▁the ▁Iowa ▁State ▁Cy cl ones ▁Track ▁and ▁Field ▁and ▁Iowa ▁State ▁Cy cl ones ▁Cross ▁Country ▁teams . ▁He ▁was ▁a ▁bronze ▁med all ist ▁in ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 0   m ▁at ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 2 ▁European ▁Athletics ▁U 2 3 ▁Cup . ▁ ▁He ▁won ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 6 ▁European ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships ▁and ▁is ▁a ▁three - time ▁Olymp ian ; ▁who ▁placed ▁fourth ▁in ▁two ▁success ive ▁Olympic ▁Games ▁whilst ▁representing ▁Great ▁Britain . ▁He ▁twice ▁represented ▁Britain ▁at ▁the ▁World ▁Championships ▁in ▁Athletics , ▁running ▁the ▁ 5 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 3 ▁and ▁ 1 0 , 0 0 0 ▁metres ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁He ▁was ▁also ▁a ▁five - time ▁particip ant ▁at ▁the ▁I A AF ▁World ▁Cross ▁Country ▁Championships , ▁his ▁best ▁finish ▁being ▁e ighth ▁place ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 9 . ▁At ▁the ▁