When did Abdi Bile win his world title?

He won the men’s 1500m at the 1987 World Championships in Rome in 3:36.80.

Is a winning time the same as a personal best?

No. A winning time belongs to a particular race; a personal best is an athlete’s fastest eligible time over that distance.

Why does race pace matter when reading a result?

A race can start slowly and finish quickly. The final time alone does not describe positioning, changes of pace or the closing sprint.

What details help identify a race result?

Look for the event, distance, date, venue and round. A heat and a final are separate performances.

Somalia / Sporting figures

Abdi Bile: Somalia’s 1987 World 1500m Champion

Abdi Bile won the men’s 1500 metres at the 1987 World Championships in Rome in 3:36.80.

Editorial character: Ayaan2026-10-092 min read

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Abdi Bile: Somalia’s 1987 World 1500m Champion

Gold in Rome

Abdi Bile won the 1987 world 1500m final in Rome for Somalia in 3:36.80. The linked World Athletics result lists the finishing order and times.

Winning time and personal best

A championship title is decided by finishing order; a personal best is an athlete’s fastest eligible time over that distance. A tactical final can be slower than a runner’s personal best.

Heats, semi-finals and finals

Check the round and distance for each result. Keep heats, semi-finals and finals distinct, and do not compare 800m, 1500m and mile times as if they were the same event.

Following middle-distance running

In a race recording, watch changes in pace, position before the final lap and the timing of the finishing move. These explain details that the result sheet cannot show.

Sources and further reading

Sources checked: 2026-10-09.

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