Obiri reveals how late General Francis Ogolla shaped her athletic journey

Boston Marathon defending champion Hellen Obiri has shared how the late General Francis Ogolla changed the trajectory of her life.

Obiri revealed that Ogolla’s belief in her potential paved the way for a career that would eventually make her one of the most celebrated athletes in history.

After completing her studies, Obiri was left at a crossroads despite having an undeniable talent. She had to choose between returning home to Kisii and staying in Nairobi to fight for her dreams.

“After completing my studies, I had to choose between returning home to Kisii, where opportunities were scarce, or fighting for my dreams in Nairobi. I refused to settle for casual labour. I used to make bricks during school holidays, so I asked my coach, Gregory Kilonzo, to let me stay at his house,” she shared with Athletics News.

Determined to make her talent count, she turned up for a cross-country race at Ngong Racecourse. It was during that race that her talent caught the eyes of Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) coach Sammy Macharia, who invited her to train in Nanyuki.

It was during one of those training sessions that General Ogolla spotted her.

“In 2008, my life changed when the late General Francis Ogolla Omondi spotted me during training. He asked for my phone number and promised to recruit me into KDF because he believed I would be a big star,” Obiri vividly narrated.

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Despite being recruited into KDF and having ample time to train, Obiri revealed that she briefly lost faith in running.

She diverted her energy to netball, joining the Ulinzi Netball Team for a year. However, a KDF coach reminded her of her immense potential and convinced her to return to the track.

Her comeback was gradual but steady. In 2010, she finished 37th at the KDF Cross Country Championships. A year later, she improved significantly, finishing fifth.

Obiri’s international breakthrough came in 2011 at the Military Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she secured a third-place finish in the 800m and fourth in the 1500m.

That same year, she represented Kenya at the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, finishing 10th in the 1500m.

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From that point on, she never looked back. Obiri has since made history by becoming the first woman to win world titles in outdoor track, indoor track, and cross-country events.

She has excelled across multiple disciplines, competing in the 800m, 1500m, 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m, 10km road running, half marathon, and full marathon.

Now an established marathoner, Obiri will be lining up for the 2025 Boston Marathon on April 21, aiming to retain her title for a third consecutive time.