Obiri traces her rough road to the top of the game

After carving a niche for herself in the hall of fame as a middle-distance champion, Kenyan track sensation Hellen Obiri is now poised to conquer the romanticized world of marathons.

Her stellar rise to global acclamation has not been a freak occurrence. She has steadily built her forte and cemented her status as one of the most decorated sports personalities in the cutthroat business where winners bask in the trappings of wealth and glory.

Her path to stardom began two decades ago in Kisii, the prosperous agricultural county in southwestern Kenya. The fourth of six siblings, Obiri was born on December 13, 1989, in Boginchoncho village, Kisii county.

Her father, Isaac Obiri, encouraged her to pursue a career in athletics from a very tender age. After completing her education at Ekeonga primary school in Kisii, Obiri proceeded to Riruta Central Secondary School in Nairobi where her talent on the track came to the fore.

"I became actively involved in athletics and particularly the marathon during my years in primary and secondary school. It wasn't easy given I had to strike a balance between my passion for sports and my studies," Obiri said.

It was during the inter-school championships that she began jutting out her talons as a potential world beater. "I was only 14 when I represented  our school in the 200 and 400 metres at the national athletics level."

Upon completing high school, she secured admission to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in 2009, where she was taken to hone her military skills at the Eldoret Barracks.

"I was posted to Laikipia Airbase immediately after graduating," Obiri said. The physical demands of the training propelled her to new fitness levels that proved invaluable in her fledgling athletics career. A 32nd-place finish at the 2010 Kenya Armed Forces Cross Country Championships was the harshest welcome Obiri received on her senior debut.

She vowed to turn around her fortunes in subsequent competitions and her determination and resilience in training bore fruits when she wrapped up fifth over the distance the following year.

"I secured a slot in Team Kenya's contingent for the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, where I managed a personal best time despite failing to advance to the finals."

Obiri made a breakthrough in her career in 2012 when she stormed the world indoor 3000m title. Titles, trophies, and medals have been flowing in her direction ever since and age doesn't seem to deter her resolve to remain at the apex of her game.

She twice blazed to the gold podium in the 5000m race during the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and bagged another gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"I won gold at the African Championships both in 2014 and 2018 and also clinched a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics."

Her talent and passion for the sport paid off handsomely when she earned a promotion to the rank of senior sergeant in the Kenya Defence Forces following her sublime performance at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where she tucked away a gold medal.

She prides herself on the 1500m bronze at the Moscow 2013 World Championships, the 3000m silver at the Sopot 2014 World Indoor Championships, and the 3000m gold at the Istanbul 2012 World Indoor Championships.

Her impressive trophy cabinet includes the 4 x 1500m gold at the Nassau 2014 IAAF World Relays, the 1500m gold at Marrakech 2014 African Championships, the 5000m silver at Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games, and the 5000m gold at London 2017 World Championships.

"I also won the 5000m gold at Asaba 2018 African Championships, the 5000m gold at Doha 2019 World Championships, the 5000m silver at Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games, the 10,000m silver at Eugene 2022 World Championships, the half marathon gold at the 2022 Istanbul Half Marathon, and Boston Marathon 2023."

In 2022, Hellen Obiri continued to make a name for herself in the world of long-distance running.

She started the year by winning the women’s 10,000m race at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, where she set a new Games record of 30:38.08 in the process.

Later in the year, Obiri competed in 5,000m during World Athletics Championships, held in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Despite facing tough competition from Ethiopian runners Senbere Teferi and Gudaf Tsegay, Obiri still held her own to emerge top in  14:23.20.

With this win, Obiri became the first woman to win both the 5,000 meters and 10,000m titles at the Commonwealth Games and the World Athletics Championships.

Her impressive performances have cemented her status as one of the greatest long-distance runners of her generation. With her full focus now on the course, Obiri has pledged to deliver more vintage performances in the marathon races later in the year.

She said she is honing her skills with sights firmly trained on masterclass acts over the distance.

"I will be focusing on my next marathon, probably in October or November, but I've not yet decided which one," Obiri said on the phone.

The two-time world 5,000m champion returned to her training base in Colorado, USA, where she has settled with her family after attending the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship, earlier in the month.

Obiri said she is not under the pump to lower her time in the marathon. "I only want to run well and win all the races going forward. I don't feel any pressure at all to clock a particular time. I don't have any in mind," Obiri said.

She extolled President William Ruto for introducing a lofty scheme to award athletes who break records and bag medals, adding that other countries will now find it extremely difficult to beat Kenyans.

"It's a good idea that will motivate athletes to work extra hard," Obiri said.

Earlier in the month, the president gifted Kenyan track queen Faith Kipyegon Sh5 million in cash prize and a house in Park Road, Nairobi valued at Sh6 million after she broke the 1500m and 5000m records during the Diamond League in Florence Italy, and Paris France respectively.

Reiterating her earlier statement that she will not grace the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Obiri asked those who will hold forte for Kenya to make the country proud.

"I am wishing them all the very best, and praying to God to grant them good health. More than 50 million Kenyans will be behind them," Obiri said.

"I will not be running in Budapest in August. I do not have the experience necessary to win a marathon race if I declare to compete because I have only run two marathons."

The 33-year-old sergeant has experienced an amazing season with triumphs in the Boston Marathon and Great Manchester 10k Run.

She is fresh from her third Great Manchester Run 10km title, which she successfully defended in 31:14 earlier in the month.

After winning the race for the first time in 2019, where she clocked 31:23, Obiri reclaimed the championship last year with a track record time of 30:15, breaking the previous mark of 30:52 set in 2021 by Great Britain's Eilish McColgan.

"Occasionally, it's a good idea to attempt running the 10k race after taking part in the marathon to determine your speed. I have been doing exactly that," Obiri stated.

"My physique has been in terrific form ever since I started competing in cross-country races in January. I have won every race I have entered, and I intend to keep it up for the remainder of the season. I'm going to concentrate and work out hard."

Obiri is married to Tom Nyaundi and they have a daughter, Tania Blessing Macheche, born in 2015.