Winfred Yavi, representing Bahrain, delivered an outstanding performance in the women’s 3000 meters steeplechase event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Her gold medal-winning time of 8:52.76 not only secured her the top spot on the podium but also set a new Olympic record, surpassing the previous mark set by Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. READ FULL STORY
Yavi took the lead early in the race and maintained a steady pace throughout.
Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, the reigning Olympic champion, pushed Yavi hard in the final lap but ultimately settled for silver with a national record of 8:53.34.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, who had been trailing in the early stages, made a strong comeback in the final stretch to claim the bronze medal with a personal best of 8:55.15.
For her gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yavi is set to take home Ksh 53 million, which is what Bahrain rewards athletes who win gold.
Yavi’s victory in Paris adds to her growing list of achievements.
Earlier this year, she won the world championship title in the same event, cementing her status as one of the top steeplechase runners in the world.
Her success in Paris marks a significant milestone in her athletic career and solidifies her position as a dominant force in the sport.
Yavi’s triumph in Paris not only brings glory to Bahrain but also highlights the growing strength of the nation’s athletics program.
The country has been investing heavily in sports development and has produced several world-class athletes in recent years.
Yavi’s gold medal is a testament to the hard work and dedication of both the athlete and her support team.
Speaking during a past interview, Yavi explained how she ended up representing Bahrain and not Kenya as a professional athlete.
She said Bahrain gave her the first priority after she took part in Kenya’s qualification trials but failed on several occasions.
“The reason why I didn’t get the chance to represent my country is that I used to go for the Kenyan team trials, and I didn’t qualify, so I just got this like the first priority. Getting Bahrain was my first priority, but I was ready to represent my country,” she said.
Yavi stated that Kenya has many talented athletes and getting the opportunity to be part of the teams is difficult due to the competition at the trials.
“The competition was stiff; you know in Kenya we have a lot of athletes, and getting the chance to get into the Kenyan athletics team is hard
“You can be part of the team, but you will find them selecting like two people only. If you are in position three or four, you are going to miss,” she said.
Yavi noted that she was ready to represent Kenya, but she never got the chance despite training and working hard.
“I had worked hard and did thorough training, but I missed out. That is how I got the chance to represent Bahrain, and I took it. So, it came like a first priority,” she stated.
