Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi attributes her decision to represent Bahrain to the fierce competition for a slot in Team Kenya.
Yavi shattered the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase record after clocking 8:52.76 to beat Tokyo 2020 champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (8:53.34) and 20-year-old Faith Cherotich (8:55.15) to second and third places respectively.
In a recent interview, the 24-year-old highlighted the competitive nature of the Kenyan athletics field.
“I chose Bahrain because I didn’t get a chance to represent Kenya. The competition was fierce and the number of athletes was overwhelming,” Yavi remarked.
Yavi also highlighted the arduous Kenyan trials, where only the top two or three athletes earn a spot on the national team.
“Getting a chance in Team Kenya is very hard. You can go to the trials and the federation only picks the top two from the event,” she stated.
Yavi recounted missing out on the U20 championships in Poland in 2016 after placing third in the trials.
“I missed out on a chance to represent the country in 2016 after I finished third in the trials. The federation was selecting only the top two athletes,” she stated.
Despite her rigorous preparations and dedication, missing the cut was devastating.
“I had trained extensively and put in immense effort, but I missed out. Seeing my teammates excel made me strive to reach their level,” she shared.
When the opportunity to compete for Bahrain arose in 2017, Yavi eagerly embraced it, despite facing criticism from close friends.
“My move to Bahrain was met with negativity from close friends. I wasn't strong and hadn't turned pro yet so they thought it would be a challenge for me being there. But discussions with my parents and coach helped,” she explained.
Yavi’s relentless hard work and consistency have been the cornerstones of her illustrious career.
“Secretly training hard has propelled me to my current level and helped me attain the accolades I have now,” she revealed.
Her trophy cabinet includes the 2023 world 3000m SC title from Budapest, Hungary, three Asian Games titles from 2018 and 2022 (1,500m and 3,000m steeplechase) as well as the 2019 Military Games title from Wuhan, China.
Her other accolades are gold medals from the 2019 Arab championships in the steeplechase event and 5,000m and a bronze medal from the 2018 Asian Continental Cup.
Yavi maintains her rigorous training regimen in Kenya, benefiting from the favourable high altitude. “I train mostly in Kenya due to the high altitude advantages and stay in Bahrain for only a few months,” she concluded.
