Christian Belz
| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
| Men's athletics | ||
Representing  Switzerland
|
||
| Universiade | ||
 |
2001 Beijing | 3000 m st. |
|
2001 Beijing | 5000 m |
Christian Belz (born September 11, 1974) is a Swiss long-distance runner. He was initially a steeplechaser and represented Switzerland in the event at the World Championships in Athletics in 1999 and 2001 as well as the 2000 Summer Olympics. He broke the national record with a run of 8:22.24 in June 2001. Later that year he won two bronze medals at the 2001 Summer Universiade.
He began to focus on the 5000 metres instead and was one of two Europeans to make the world final at the 2003 World Championships. He was eliminated in the heats at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but broke another Swiss record at the 2005 World Championships, running 27:53.16 in the 10,000 metres. He was fourth at the 2006 European Athletics Championships.
A switch to road running was hindered by injury throughout 2007 to 2009. He made his final major appearance at the 2010 European Athletics Championships and announced his international retirement at the end of that year.
Born in Zürich, he started his career in athletics as a specialist in the 3000 metres steeplechase. He earned All-American honours competing for the Washington Huskies while studying at the University of Washington. It was in the steeplechase that he made his first international appearances for Switzerland. He was selected for the 1999 World Championships in Athletics and finished eighth in his heat. He made his Olympic debut the following year at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and was again knocked out in the heats after an eighth place finish.
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