It was a moment filled with tears of joy, laughter, and ‘tears of joy’ as Kenyan-born Bahrain athlete Winfred Yavi arrived in the country today morning.
Yavi was received by her parents at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
In a video seen by The Informer Media Group, the Paris Olympics 3000m steeplechase gold medalist is seen crying while holding a bouquet of white and pink flowers, and her medal.
The athlete who was dressed in a white hoodie, black trousers, and white shoes was all emotional as she could not hold back her tears.
Yavi won the Paris 2024 Olympic 3,000m steeplechase.
She broke the record after clocking 8:52.76 to beat Tokyo 2020 champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (8:53.34) and 20-year-old Faith Cherotich (8:55.15) to second and third places respectively.
In an earlier interview earlier this year, Yavi stated that before deciding to switch to Bahrain, she had done a lot of trials to get a chance at the Kenyan national team, but she never made it as there was stiff competition.
“I used to go to the Kenya team trials, and I didn’t qualify… It was my priority; I was ready to represent my country. The competition was stiff. You know that in Kenya we have a lot of athletes, and to get that chance, you should at least enter the Kenyan team. You can get into the Kenyan team, but you find that they take only two people; if you are number two or number four, you miss out. I was ready, but I never got a chance.” The 24-year-old stated.
She revealed that in 2016, she emerged number three in the trials for a youth competition, but only the first two athletes were selected to go and represent Kenya.
“I had done a lot of training; I had worked hard; that’s how I came and got the chance (to go to Bahrain), and I went.” She said.
Yavi also revealed that she was connected by a Kenyan in the sports sector to go and represent Bahrain.
She confirmed having nationality for the Asian country apart from representing Bahrain in athletics.
