Kenya is celebrating a golden era of women’s athletics after an extraordinary showing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where its female athletes powered the nation to second place in the medal standings, just behind the United States. In a historic display of dominance, Kenyan women claimed six of the country’s seven gold medals, sweeping the podium in every distance event from the 800 metres to the marathon and cementing their place in the history of global athletics.
The highlight of Kenya’s campaign came on the final day of the championships when Lilian Odira stunned the athletics world with a record-breaking victory in the women’s 800 metres. Odira not only shattered her personal best by nearly two seconds but also broke a 42-year-old championship record, etching her name in history as one of the sport’s greatest comeback stories. Her triumph capped off an astonishing run of Kenyan victories that included Faith Kipyegon in the 1500m and Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir in the marathon.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is that Odira, Kipyegon, and Jepchirchir are not just world champions but also mothers. Odira, just 26 years old, had stepped away from competitive athletics for several years to raise her two young sons, now aged four and two. Her return to the global stage in 2023 was the beginning of a determined journey that culminated in her gold medal in Tokyo. For many, her story has become a symbol of resilience, perseverance, and the ability of women to balance motherhood and elite sport.
Former world 800m champion and Olympic silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei praised Odira and her fellow champions for inspiring a new generation of African girls and women. “That just shows that even when you are a mother, you can still rule the world. It doesn’t stop you. This is being a role model to the young ones. It shows the African girl, with our culture, that you can also challenge and succeed even after having a baby,” she said in an interview with BBC World Service.
Jepkosgei reflected on how this success represents not only a triumph in athletics but also a cultural transformation within Kenya and beyond. “During our time, when someone got married or had a baby, their career would usually end. With our culture, we were losing a lot of talent. But this now shows how far we can go. We can change our societies, we can change our communities, we can change our culture,” she added.
The victories of Odira, Kipyegon, and Jepchirchir highlight a broader shift in Kenyan athletics, where female athletes are increasingly celebrated for breaking barriers both on and off the track. Their ability to combine family life with world-class competition challenges long-standing stereotypes and offers new possibilities for women in sport. For Kenya, their success also reinforces the country’s reputation as a powerhouse in middle- and long-distance running, with female athletes leading the charge in redefining the nation’s global image.
As Kenyans at home and abroad celebrate this golden generation, the 2025 World Athletics Championships will be remembered not only for the medals but for the powerful message sent by mothers who have risen to the pinnacle of world sport. Their victories symbolize a new era where women’s strength, resilience, and leadership are shaping both athletics and society, inspiring future generations to dream without limits.
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