Former marathon record holder among Kenyan athletes allegedly switching allegiance to Turkey

Former Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei has emerged as the headline name in reports linking a group of elite Kenyan athletes to a possible switch of allegiance to Turkey ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

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A report by Track and Field Gazette claims the athletes appeared in a since-deleted post by the Turkish Athletics Federation, which published a 53-member provisional list as part of Turkey’s long-term Olympic planning.

Alongside Kosgei, the Kenyan runners mentioned are Ronald Kwemoi, Catherine Amanang’ole, Brian Kibor and Nelvin Jepkemboi.

Kosgei’s name carries particular weight, given her status in global distance running.

The 31-year-old made history at the 2019 Chicago Marathon when she ran 2:14:04 to set a women’s marathon world record, establishing herself as one of the greatest marathoners of her era.

Her résumé also includes victories at the London and Tokyo marathons, two Chicago Marathon titles and an Olympic silver medal from the Tokyo 2020 Games. Any confirmed change would deal a major blow to Kenyan athletics

Kwemoi, a former world U20 1500m record holder, is another high-value target.

Once celebrated as a teenage prodigy after his record-breaking 3:28.81 run in Monaco in 2014, he has since reinvented himself as a 5,000m specialist.

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His Olympic silver medal at the Paris 2024 Games further elevated his standing on the international stage.

Amanang’ole represents Kenya’s next generation of road-running stars. At just 22, she has already claimed a world championship bronze in the half marathon and continues to impress on the global circuit, highlighted by successive wins at the Abu Dhabi Marathon.

Jepkemboi, who has been steadily transitioning from track to road races, has also been mentioned. Her recent victory at the Nairobi City Marathon signaled her arrival among the leading contenders in women’s long-distance running.

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Little is known publicly about Kibor’s role in the reported move, but his inclusion reflects Turkey’s ongoing strategy of strengthening its endurance ranks by targeting athletes with proven or emerging Olympic potential.

No official confirmation has been issued by the athletes involved, or by Athletics Kenya.

Any change of nationality would require approval under World Athletics rules and would involve mandatory waiting periods before athletes could compete for a new country at major championships.

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