Sophie Duarte

Sophie Duarte (born 31 July 1981) is a French runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase.

She placed fifth at the 2007 World Championships, setting a French record, and won the individual gold medal at 2013 European Cross Country Championships.

In 2007 Duarte was included into the French national team and placed fifth at the world championships, beating her own French record by 2 seconds.

She participated in the 3000 m steeplechase at the 2008 Summer Olympics and finished 7th in the heats.

On 10 July 2009, she bettered her French record running 9:25.62 at the Golden Gala meet in Rome.

Qualifying for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, she finished initially 15th in the final.

In 2010, Duarte placed seventh at the European Championships in Barcelona.

She did not run at the London 2012 Olympics due to an injury.

Since 2013 she has been trained by David Heath, a former English international, in cross country.

Duarte established a new personal best over 5000 m running 15:14 at the meeting of Areva de Paris, and qualified for the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.

Duarte was reclassified in 14th position

In 2014, she set a new personal record at the 10 km running 31:53 and qualified in the 10000 m for the European Championships in Zurich.

On 19 November 2015, the Spaniard Marta Dominguez, who initially won the championship at these Games, was disqualified for doping.

The same year she ran her first Cross Country Championship where she placed 16th, 2nd among Europeans.

Several months later, she won the European Cross Country championship.