Beatrice Chebet has shared the emotional significance behind Emmanuel Wanyonyi’s gold medal win in the men’s 800m at the World Athletics Championships, calling it the moment Kenya’s athletics team needed. While women dominated the competition, with Chebet herself claiming gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m, the men’s team had not delivered a gold until Wanyonyi’s triumph.
The Kenyan women’s squad showcased exceptional performances, with Faith Kipyegon securing her fourth world title in the 1500m, while Lilian Odira and Faith Cherotich also claimed titles in the 800m and 3000m steeplechase. Peres Jepchirchir added to the glory with a marathon gold, and Dorcus Ewoi earned a silver in the 1500m. However, the men’s team was notably lacking in gold, with Reynold Cheruiyot and Edmund Serem each claiming bronze in their respective events.
Chebet, who was among the women’s standout performers, expressed her pride in the team’s dominance but also emphasized how crucial Wanyonyi’s gold was to balance out the men’s performance. “The 800m was the only gold medal we were waiting for from the men, so we were pushing Wanyonyi, and everyone was running with him,” she remarked. Wanyonyi delivered on the expectations, winning with a time of 1:41.44, narrowly edging out Djamel Sedjati and Marco Arop.
Chebet noted that the Kenyan women had raised the bar, and there was a collective sense of pride in the men’s success, especially since they had been looking to Wanyonyi to deliver the one missing gold. “We are so grateful to have won the medals and made history as the first country to sweep the gold medals from the 800m to the marathon,” she added.
With 11 medals, including seven golds, Kenya finished second overall at the World Athletics Championships, behind the United States. Chebet’s words highlight the unique sense of achievement in Wanyonyi’s victory, as it marked a pivotal moment in Kenya’s track and field history.
