[3] He represented the United States in the 3000 meters at the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships held in Portland, Oregon.

Chelimo was eventually run down by the sprint finish of 41-year-old Kenyan American Bernard Lagat, followed closely by Hassan Mead.

But Chelimo was able to hold his position to the finish, beating Eric Jenkins to the line by 0.06 of a second and qualifying for the 2016 Summer Olympics.

During the final he stayed near the lead the entire race, withstanding every attack three Ethiopian teammates were trying to throw against eventual winner Mo Farah.

The United States appealed and the medal was reinstated, with Edris, the initiator of the contact remaining disqualified.

Chelimo's medal was the first for the US in the event since Bob Schul and Bill Dellinger in the 1964 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo.

Chelimo participated in the 3000m of the 2018 USA Indoor Track and Field Championships held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

[10] Chelimo won his third U.S. outdoor title in the 5000m in a dramatic three-man sprint finish where he controversially drifted to lane four to prevent his competitors from overtaking him.

[9] In another notable finish, Chelimo narrowly out-leaned Nicholas Kimeli for the bronze medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic 5000m.