Sad reason Winfred Yavi, Kenyan-born Paris gold medal winner is running for Bahrain

GEOFFREY MBUTHIA ENTERTAINMENT SUB-EDITOR

07 August 2024

• The petite runner will be given Sh53 million for her gold medal win by the Bahraini government.

The Paris Olympics have been terrible for Kenyans if you go by the comments online by patriotic citizens.

Some say that performance-wise it compares to the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where Kenya had a historic low as far as medals go.

But one Kenyan-born woman isn't sharing the sadness about how Kenya has been doing in this games. That woman is Bahraini, Winfred Mutile Yavi , who just clinched the gold medal in the women's 3000m steeplechase, setting a new Olympic record of 8:52.76.

The athlete won the race in spectacular style, stamping her authority and asserting her dominance over her East African rivals in brutal fashion.

But who is this petite athlete who many Kenyans are now commiserating about over her running for another country?

Let's begin below:

Winfred Mutile Yavi switched her allegiance to Bahrain at the young age of 15, seeking better opportunities in athletics.

Yavi explained that her decision to represent Bahrain stemmed from a deep desire to compete at the highest level, a chance that was often elusive in Kenya.

“I didn’t get the chance to represent Kenya… I used to go to trials and I wasn’t always able to qualify,” Yavi explained in a past interview.

Despite her dedication and rigourous training, the competitive landscape in Kenya posed significant challenges.

With numerous talented athletes vying for limited spots, only a few were selected for major international events. “The competition was stiff, and in Kenya, we always have a lot of athletes. In most cases, only two athletes are selected for major events. I was ready to represent Team Kenya but I always missed out most of the time,” she said.

One particular instance that deeply affected her was in 2016 when, despite her best efforts and thorough preparation, she did not secure a place in the team.

“I remember in 2016 when I missed out…it pained me a lot. I had done my training very well and I was hopeful of a better outcome, but the results did not come. That’s how I got the chance to run for Bahrain,” Yavi recalled.

This trend is not unique to Yavi; many Kenyan athletes have made similar choices, often motivated by the promise of better prospects and recognition abroad.

The financial incentives and the chance to compete for a nation that invests heavily in athletics have attracted numerous athletes from Kenya.

She won a bronze medal at the 2018 World U20 Championships.

She secured fourth place at the 2019 and 2022 World Athletics Championships.

The 24-year-old has been a consistent performer on the international stage, with a string of podium finishes, including becoming the first athlete representing Bahrain to win the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championship in 2023.

For her gold medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Yavi is set to take home Sh53 million, Bahrain's reward for athletes who win gold.