Dj Vnyash
On Sunday, Kenya-born athlete Winfred Yavi, who represents Bahrain, expressed her joy as she presented her gold medal to King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the ruler of the Middle Eastern country.
In photos she shared, the 24-year-old athlete proudly displayed the prestigious medal she won at the recent Paris Olympics during her visit to the king’s palace.
She mentioned that she had the opportunity to discuss the events in France with the king and expressed her gratitude for his support of the athletes.
“It was an honor to showcase our performances at the Olympic Games and present the medal to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. We are deeply appreciative of His Majesty’s support,” Yavi said.
Yavi, originally from Makueni County, clinched the gold medal in the women’s 3000 meters steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
After winning the race at the Zurich Diamond League in September 2023, Yavi gave an interview where she reflected on her victory and her journey as a runner.
She shared that before deciding to move to Bahrain about eight years ago, she had made several attempts to secure a spot on Kenya’s national team but was unable to do so due to the intense competition.
“I used to participate in trials for the Kenyan team, but I didn’t qualify. Moving to Bahrain became a priority, but I was ready to represent my country,” Yavi said.
She added, “The competition was fierce. In Kenya, there are so many talented athletes, and even earning a spot on the team is difficult. They might only select two people, so if you finish second or fourth, you miss out. I was prepared, but I kept missing the opportunity.”
Yavi revealed that in 2016, she placed third in the trials for international youth competitions, but only the top two athletes were selected to represent Kenya.
“I had worked hard and put in a lot of effort, so when the opportunity to move to Bahrain arose, I seized it. It became my top priority,” she said.
Yavi also disclosed that she was connected to the opportunity in Bahrain through a Kenyan involved in the sports industry.
“My parents agreed, and my coach also supported the decision and took me there,” she said.
The 24-year-old athlete confirmed that in addition to representing Bahrain in athletics, she also holds citizenship in the Asian country.
However, she noted that the decision to change nationality sparked strong emotions and negative reactions, particularly from friends.
“It brought a lot of negativity. People questioned how certain I was that I would succeed there. It was tough. Everyone had something to say. Some advised against it, fearing I might get hurt. My parents and I discussed it, and we consulted with my coach and others. We all came together and agreed,” she said.
Despite holding Bahraini citizenship, Yavi mentioned that she often stays in Kenya because of the favorable weather for training.
