• "It was my first priority; I was ready to represent my country."
• Yavi also revealed that she was connected by a Kenyan in the sports sector to go and represent Bahrain.
Image: WORLD ATHLETICS
After winning the women's 3000m steeplechase at the Zurich Diamond League back in September 2023, the 24-year-old athlete held an interview where she spoke about her victory and career journey.
Yavi on Wednesday crossed the line with arms outstretched in celebration, stopping the clock in a new Olympic record of eight minutes, 52.76 seconds (8:52.76) before busting out some dance moves.
Yavi, the 2024 Winner of the Olympics 3000m steeplechase said that before deciding to switch to Bahrain, she did a lot of trials to get a chance at the Kenyan national team, but she never made it as there was stiff competition.
"I used to go to the Kenya team trials, and I didn't qualify... It was my first priority; I was ready to represent my country," Yavi told Mungai Eve.
"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 totally ready, but I never got a chance.”
The 3000m steeplechase champion 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.
The 24-year-old athlete confirmed that, apart from representing Bahrain in athletics, she also has a nationality for the Asian country.
She, however, noted that the decision to change nationality brought a lot of negativity, especially from friends.
"It brought a lot of negativity. I was being asked how sure I was that I would go and run well. It was complicated. Everyone was coming up with different things to tell me," she said.
"Others said I should not go there; I would get hurt. My parents came, and we talked. We sat down with the coach and other people. We came up with one decision, and we agreed," she said.
Yavi said that despite having Bahraini nationality, she is often in Kenya as there is good weather for training.