Have a look at the biography, parents, religion and origin of Winfred Yavi
Let’s learn more about Winfred Yavi, as Bahraini athlete is grabbing headlines following delivering a spectacular final kick to set a new Olympic record.
For the unversed, Yavi, while setting a new OR, secured the women’s 3,000m steeplechase title on Tuesday, August 6 at the Paris Olympics 2024. Witnessing her impressive performance, everyone wants to know more about her. So, let’s find out together!
Who is Bahrain steeplechase athlete Winfred Yavi, biography, age, height, parents, religion, origin, education and medals
The 24-year-old athlete outpaced defending champion, Peruth Chemutai of Uganda in a thrilling sprint to the finish, adding Olympic gold to her world championship title.
Yavi crossed the line with arms raised in celebration, clocking a new Olympic record of 8:52.76 before breaking into dance.
Bahrain's third EVER Olympic gold! 🇧🇭🥇
Winfred Yavi, 𝐎𝐥𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧. pic.twitter.com/R3ls1w9EP0— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) August 6, 2024
Meanwhile, a heartbroken Chemutai took silver with a national record of 8:53.34, while Faith Cherotich of Kenya earned bronze with a time of 8:55.15.
About Winfred Yavi
Born: 31 December 1999 (age 24 years), Kenya
Nationality: Bahraini
Height: 1.59 m
Weight: 49 kg
Her father Nicodemus is a government agronomist and she is the last born in a family of five children (one boy and four girls). She discovered her passion for athletics at school and her mother had been a runner in high school.
Winfred attended St. Theresa’s Girls’ Secondary School in Eldoret for her high school education
For the curious, born December 31, 1999, Winfred Mutile Yavi who is a Muslim by religion, is a Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete specializing in the 3,000 meters steeplechase. She came to the spotlight after she bagged gold at the Summer Olympics 2024 with a record-setting performance.
Originally from Ukia, Makueni County, Yavi earned a bronze medal in the steeplechase at the 2018 World Under-20 Championships.
OLYMPIC RECORD 👏
3000m steeplechase world champ Yavi Winfred becomes the Olympic champ in a thrilling final 🔥
8:52.67 ⏱️#Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/WbXDLg8DeL
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 6, 2024
After transferring her allegiance to Bahrain at age fifteen, she became eligible to compete for her new nation in August 2016. At 17, she participated in the 2017 World Championships in Athletics, finishing eighth in the steeplechase final.
She also won gold at the 2023 World Athletics Championships and finished fourth at both the 2019 and 2022 World Athletics Championships.
She claimed gold at the 2018 Asian Games and medaled in multiple events at the 2019 Asian Athletics Championships, including bronze in the 1500 meters, and gold in both the 5000 meters and the 3000m steeplechase.
Why Yavi Represents Bahrain
During a post-match interview after winning gold for Bahrain at the Olympics 2024, Winfred Yavi, revealed the reason behind representing Bahrain and not Kenya, despite being born in the Kenya.
Addressing to the media, Winfred Yavi revealed that she switched to Bahrain after numerous unsuccessful trials for the Kenyan national team due to intense internal competition.
In her statement, she said, “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.” She further revealed that the competition in Kenya is “stiff,” while adding that the nation has “a lot of athletes.”
A few years ago, Winfred Yavi was denied a spot in Team Kenya. She changed her citizenship and bagged herself a gold medal. I am glad that everyone is happy Winfred Yavi for winning for Bahrain because patriotism never paid in this country. pic.twitter.com/KbdFIojwV7
— Duke Mtambo⚡️ (@dukemtambo) August 7, 2024
She also mentioned that an athlete “can get into the Kenyan team, but you find that they take only two people,” while adding that if an athlete is either “number two or number four, you miss out.”
Various reports reveals that Winfred Yavi was placed third in trials in 2016 for youth competition, but only the top two athletes were selected to represent Kenya.
Later, she got an opportunity from Bahrain, so, she grabbed it. Now, she holds the Bahraini nationality.
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