Kenya's new breed of athletes stealing the show with eloquence and confidence

Kenya is witnessing the rise of a new breed of athletes; those that are chasing academic dreams and athletics glory, side by side.

And their eloquence and confidence is slowly settling the debate on whether the country’s big shots need translators while addressing the world at finish lines after jaw-dropping performances.

The world beaters have confirmed in recent years that there is one thing that you can’t take away from them – the aspect of surprise.

When you thought that their dominance in global championships was fading, they spectacularly rise in a manner that wows the world.

And when athletics enthusiasts bit their nails over how the country’s runners would struggle with English at the finish line and during pre-race conferences, Kenya’s budding talents took their time, rolled up their sleeves and began balancing education and racing – and the result is a new breed of articulate communicators who are pursuing their university degrees in local and international institutions through sponsored scholarships.

Others pursued and accomplished their races for educational power here in Kenya.

While another class of Kenyan athletes chose to upscale their level of communication through reading.

The new breed is cementing Kenya’s athletics legacy while writing each chapter of their glorious athletics histories with polished language and unmatched eloquence.

Observers say they are breaking new records away from the tracks and roads as they maintain Kenya’s pride as an athletics powerhouse.

Tokyo World Championships, which came to a close on November 21, turned into an arena for Kenyan athletics arsenals to showcase top-class communication strengths.

We turn our attention to men and women athletes making waves through their recently acquired communication prowess.

Edwin Kurgat kicked off the display of rare articulation when he secured his qualification to fly Kenyan colours in the men’s 10,000m at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships during the national trials at the Eugene Diamond League on July 5.

Unexpectedly, Kurgat, who was fourth in a 10,000m race won by Ethiopian Binian Mehary, responded to media questions in an eloquence that went viral as he expressed his feelings upon running a personal best and making Team Kenya to Tokyo.

“I feel really good. It was confusing at first to know what pace we were going. I wanted to run a good time to get the qualification for the World Championships, and I knew I had to be ready mentally to secure it. I just had to chill, relax, try to go with a 26:40 pace and then see what I will do at the end,” Kurgat, 29, explained himself in an attention-pulling style.

Kurgat, a product of St Patrick’s High School, Iten, and Iowa State University in the US, is joining the list of succinct speech masters, ending Kenya’s struggle with communication at the global stage.

According to an Iowa State University report, Kurgat, a senior engineering major, walked into the American institution a thin, quiet-kept man before rising to be a cross country star and an amiable athlete.

“From the outset, his appearance would make others think he is just another college student walking the paths of Iowa State University. Wearing a pair of sweatpants, t-shirt and ball cap, the common person would not think twice to notice him,” the university says.

At local races, Kiswahili and local dialects have helped athletics stars express themselves, but the international front has on several occasions been defined by struggles.

There have been times that athletics stakeholders urged athletes to speak in their local dialects or Kiswahili instead of struggling with English and other international languages.

But with the rise of masteries such as the ones displayed by Kurgat and others such as world silver medallist Dorcus Ewoi and Doris Lemngole, that debate is soon going to be settled.

Ewoi warmed Kenyans’ hearts at the World Championships with her expressions and speeches.

To many fans, she perfectly fit into the ambassadorial role that Kenyan stars have been assigned while representing the nation.

“I feel so grateful running with Faith Kipyegon (a three-time Olympic champion). You know.. She helped out. I felt great. I know she wasn’t running hard but it was a great motivation for me,” said Ewoi in one of her beautifully woven speeches at the media interview zone.

Ewoi, 29, is a product of Transcend Academy, established by 2012 Boston Marathon champion Wesley Korir in Cherangany, Trans Nzoia County, and a product of athletics scholarships.

She joined South Plains College in Texa for two years before transferring to Campbell University.

She said during an homecoming party at Transcend Academy that her public speaking prowess was courtesy of her studies abroad and at Transcend.

From a camera-shy diminutive figure in Kapenguria, West Pokot County, Doris Lemngole has risen to become one of Kenya’s articulate and confident athletes.

Lemngole, a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) women’s 3000m steeplechase champion, represented Kenya in Tokyo, and her oratory prowess played out at the national trials in Nairobi on July 22.

She didn’t medal in Tokyo, but her impressive speeches are record-breaking.

Lemngole oozed class in Lausanne and confirmed that her qualification to represent Kenya at the World Championships wasn’t a fluke.

But her articulate speech stole the show in the season.

“Running alone in the rain was tough, but I stayed focused and pushed through to win. It wasn’t the time I hoped for, but handling adversity like this prepares me well for the rest of the season and the World Championships,” said Lemngole in another of her outstanding expressions.

They are joining the list of orators in and outside the tracks, fields and roads.

Bigwigs such as Africa’s fastest 100m sprinter Ferdinand Omanyala, who is a graduate of Science (Chemistry) from the University of Nairobi and a product of Friends School Kamusinga, as well as 2015 World javelin champion Julius Yego have also stamped their authority as highly skilled communicators.

In 2021, Yego, who honed his javelin tactics through YouTube graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy and Administration at Kenyatta University.

He was a Team Kenya captain in Tokyo and alongside Faith Kipyegon, they spoke during the squad’s reception at State House earlier this month.

The achievement puts him in the same league with athletes who are standing on their own feet when they are required to articulate issues.

They are among others, former Nagana Marathon champion Isaac Macharia, who graduated with a degree in Business Administration at JKUAT in 2009, and Bernard Lagat, who also studied at JKUAT before relocating to the US under an athletics scholarship.

Athletes such as world champions Faith Cherotich (women’s 3000m steeplechase) and Emmanuel Wanyonyi (men’s 800m) are quickly learning the ropes as they join legends such as Eliud Kipchoge and 800m record holder David Rudisha who upped their game through reading books and daily interactions with English-speaking support personnel.

Iten-based sports expert Dr Byron Kipchumba says: “We need a holistic approach to coaching. We need athletes who can articulate issues well because communication is a marketing tool for athletes. Without good communication skills, an athlete can’t build their image, and it becomes difficult to get endorsements.”

Kipchumba says Kenyan athletes are back to the late 1970s and 1980s when top athletes such as multiple record breaker the late Henry Rono, Prof. Mike Boit and three-time Boston Marathon winner Ibrahim Hussein, among others, addressed the world with confidence thanks to scholarships.

Junior athletics coach and teacher Claire Limo said communication is currently a crucial part of the training regimens at training camps.

Limo says she has to mentor the youngsters by allocating them responsibilities that culminate in the athletes addressing their teammates in camp.

“Many athletes come from humble backgrounds, while others dropped out of school, and such situations lower their self-esteem. We build their confidence by giving them responsibilities such as camp presidents, spiritual leaders and dining hall captains, among other duties. In the process, they improve their communication skills,” said Limo.

After his triumph at the 2022 New York City Marathon, Evans Chebet insisted on addressing the world in Swahili, triggering debate.

Chebet had in April that year refused to address the press after winning the Boston Marathon. On both occasions, race organisers had to seek the services of an interpreter who did the Swahili-English translation for a global audience in Chebet’s post-race media interviews at the Boston and New York City marathons.