Danny Tshindind Kassap was a Congolese

Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...

-Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 long-distance

Long-distance track event

Long-distance track event races require runners to balance their energy. These types of races are predominantly aerobic in nature and at the highest level, exceptional levels of aerobic endurance is required more than anything else...

 runner who specialized in the marathon

Marathon

The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...

.

He competed at the 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie

2001 Jeux de la Francophonie

The 2001 Jeux de la Francophonie, also known as IVes Jeux de la Francophonie, were held in Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Quebec, Canada from July 14–24 2001.-Sports: *Handisport...

 in Canada, and subsequently settled in Toronto. Kassap worked in a fish and chips

Fish and chips

Fish and chips is a popular take-away food in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada...

 shop while pursuing a career in running. At the 2004 Toronto Waterfront Marathon

Toronto Waterfront Marathon

The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is an annual marathon held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the last Sunday in September. Starting from 2011, the marathon will be held in October. The race day also includes a half marathon and 5 km race....

, which he won, he achieved his lifetime best time in the marathon, of 2:14:50 hours. Kassap also set a national record for the DR Congo when he ran the 10,000 metres in 28:57.28 minutes, achieved in July 2003 in Hamilton. He finished fifteenth in the 2008 London Marathon

London Marathon

The London Marathon is one of the biggest running events in the world, and one of the five top world marathons that make up the World Marathon Majors competition, which has a $1 million prize purse. It has been held each spring in London since 1981. The race is currently sponsored by Virgin Money,...

. The same year Kassap changed nationality from Congolese to Canadian.

He had health problems which started later in 2008, when he collapsed mid-race in the Berlin Marathon

Berlin Marathon

The Berlin Marathon is a major running and sporting event held annually in Berlin, Germany. The official marathon distance of 42.195 kilometers is set up as a city-wide road race where professional athletes and amateur runners jointly participate...

. Kassap was diagnosed with ventricular fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation

Ventricular fibrillation is a condition in which there is uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle of the ventricles in the heart, making them quiver rather than contract properly. Ventricular fibrillation is a medical emergency and most commonly identified arrythmia in cardiac arrest...

. He slowly recovered, but in May 2011 he was forced to withdraw from another race. Kassap died on the next day at Sunnybrook Hospital.