Paul Chelimo's silver medal in the 5K at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro was one of 2016's biggest upsets. As the first American to win an Olympic medal in the 5K since 1964, Chelimo enjoyed one of the greatest breakout seasons a runner has ever had, especially when you consider where the 26-year-old started his track and field career.

Chelimo's Track & Field Timeline:

2010-11: Moves to the U.S. from Kenya, wins four NAIA titles for Shorter University, and then transfers to UNC-Greensboro.

2011-12: 13th place at NCAA XC, fourth at NCAA indoor 3K, second at NCAA outdoor 5K.

2012-13: 10th at NCAA XC, fails to qualify for NCAA indoors, second at NCAA outdoor 5K.

2013-14: 82nd at NCAA XC, suspended by coach in February, quits team, turns pro, joins the military, and gains U.S. citizenship.

2014-15: 11th at USATF outdoor 5K.

NOTE: Chelimo's lifetime 5,000m personal best heading into the 2016 season was 13:21.89 back in 2012.

This Season:

Jan. 22: Runs a world-leading and personal-best 3K, beating newly minted NOP athlete Eric Jenkins.



March 11: Makes his first world team, taking second behind Ryan Hill in the 3K at USAs.



March 20: Finishes seventh overall in the world indoor 3K final.




April 1: Wins the Stanford Invitational 5K in 13:36.



May 28: Runs a new personal best and an Olympic 5K standard at the Prefontaine Classic in 13:21.61.

July 4: Accidentally takes a sleeping pill before his U.S. Trials 5K prelim.

This is no good accidentally took night time sleep aid instead on Ibuprofen..I have semis today..any suggestions on how to counter-act it?

— Paul Chelimo (@Paulchelimo) July 4, 2016

July 9: Makes his first Olympic team by taking third behind Bernard Lagat and Hassan Mead at the U.S. Trials.

41-YEAR-OLD BERNARD LAGAT WINS THE MENS 5000m!

He's going to his FIFTH Olympics! #RoadToRio https://t.co/0DAhfwEiqg

— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) July 10, 2016

August 20: Runs a 5K personal best by 15-plus seconds in the Olympic final, finishing second to only Mo Farah. Moments later, Chelimo gets told he was DQd on national television. One hour later, he gets reinstated.



October 18: Gets a song written about him.



Congrats Paul Chelimo on one hell of an upset!