It was a heartwarming scene of tears, laughter, and embraces as Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Winfred Yavi returned to Kenya on Wednesday. She was greeted by her parents at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA). In a video shared with the Star, the gold medalist is seen in tears, holding a bouquet of white and pink flowers along with her medal.
Wearing a white hoodie, black trousers, and white shoes, Yavi was visibly emotional and struggled to hold back her tears. She won the gold medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a new record with a time of 8:52.76. She outpaced Tokyo 2020 champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (8:53.34) and 20-year-old Faith Cherotich (8:55.15), who finished second and third, respectively.
In a previous interview, Yavi revealed that before deciding to compete for Bahrain, she underwent numerous trials to earn a spot on the Kenyan national team but faced stiff competition and did not succeed.
“I used to go to the Kenya team trials, and I didn’t qualify… It was my priority; I was ready to represent my country,” the 24-year-old said.
“The competition was stiff. You know that in Kenya we have a lot of athletes, and to get that chance, you should at least enter the Kenyan team. You can get into the Kenyan team, but you find that they take only two people; if you are number two or number four, you miss out. I was ready, but I never got a chance.”
Yavi revealed that in 2016, she emerged number three in the trials for a youth competition, but only the first two athletes were selected to go and represent Kenya.
“I had done a lot of training; I had worked hard; that’s how I came and got the chance (to go to Bahrain), and I went,” she said.
Yavi also revealed that she was connected by a Kenyan in the sports sector to go and represent Bahrain.
“My parents also agreed, and the coach also agreed and took me there,” she said.
Yavi confirmed that, apart from representing Bahrain in athletics, she also has a nationality for the Asian country.
