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It has become a tradition to see former Kenyans turning out for other countries in major competitions, including the just-ended Tokyo Olympic Games.
Just like in football, where Brazilians shine for their new countries, such as Pepe for Portugal and Diego Costa and Marcos Senna for Spain, Kenya-born athletes flying the flags of their new countries, pose a major challenge, denying the country victory that would have been guaranteed.
Shadrack Kipchirchir, Stanley Kebenei, and Bernard Lagat have turned out for the United States in major competitions. Lorna Kiplagat swapped her Kenyan uniform to run for Sweden at her peak, but would later invest back home in the North Rift in a high-altitude training centre.
In Tokyo, Kenya-born Bahraini Eunice Chebichii Chumba, Kenya-born American Sally Kipyego and Kenyan-Israel runner Chemtai Salpeter were up against Kenyans Peres Chepchirchir and Brigid Kosgei in the women’s marathon in Sapporo, on Saturday, 7th August.
Jepchirchir led a brilliant 1-2 Kenyan finish in the marathon. She finished in a time of 2 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds, grabbing the gold medal. Her teammate, Brigid Kosgei, came second, taking silver. American Molly Seidel took home the bronze.
Chumba, Kigyego, Salpeter finished the marathon in the 7th, 17th, and 66th places, respectively.
Another Kenya-born American, Aliphine Chepkerker Tuliamuk, and Susan Jeptoo, who chose France over Kenya, also participated in the marathon.
Meanwhile, Ugandan marathon runners Immaculate Chemutai and Juliet Chekwel, also completed in the Tokyo Olympics marathon, finishing in 16th and 69th places, respectively.
In 5000m, American Paul Chelimo, a former Kenyan and Olympic silver medallist, battled it out with the Kenyan contingent of Nicholas Kimeli, Daniel Simiu and Samuel Chebole.
In last year’s World Championships in Doha, at least seven foreign countries paraded 20 runners of Kenyan origin in their teams.
The US and Bahrain had seven athletes each of Kenyan origin in events ranging from 800m to the marathon.
Hosts Qatar, Turkey, Israel, Belgium, and Azerbaijan had all entered at least one former Kenyan athlete, according to the list published by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Evans Kiplagat and Isaac Kimeli represented Azerbaijan and Belgium, respectively, in men’s 5000m in Qatar. Israel’s Chemtai Salpeter and Turkey’s Polat Kemboi Arikan participated in the marathon.
Bahrain lined up Abraham Kipchirchir (1,500m), Albert Rop (10,000m), Benson Seurei (marathon) and John Koech in the 3,000m steeplechase. The women’s team had world marathon champion Rose Chelimo, Eunice Chumba (marathon) and Winfred Mutile (3,000m steeplechase).
The US team had Hillary Bor, Paul Chelimo, Shadrack Kipchirchir, Leonard Korir, Elkanah Kibet, Hillary Bor, and Stanley Kebenei, all former Kenyans.
Another notable former Kenyan athlete is Lagat. He won a pair of 1,500m Olympic medals for Kenya before changing his national allegiance to the United States, where he now lives.
The post Ex-Kenyans Return to Haunt Country’s Athletes in Tokyo Olympics appeared first on LitKenya.
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