Ruth Chepng'etich weighs in on increasing GBV cases
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 16.11.24. | 10:00
For the world record holder who has witnessed the tragic losses of fellow athletes, the issue is personal
Three-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich has added her voice to the fight against gender-based violence (GBV) amid rising cases affecting women in Kenya and beyond.
After clinching victory at this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon, where she set a new world record of 2:09:56, Chepng’etich took a moment to address an issue that weighs heavily on her heart.
“Most of the GBV victims are ladies. I am urging us to be more careful,” she said.
For Chepng’etich, who has witnessed the tragic losses of fellow athletes due to GBV, the issue is personal.
In 2021, merely five weeks after Agnes Tirop broke a 10km road-running world record in Germany, she was killed in her home. The 25-year-old had multiple stab wounds on her neck and abdomen.
A few days after Tirop’s shocking death, another budding Kenyan athlete, Agnes Muthoni, was murdered in central Kenya. A year later, Kenyan roadrunner Damaris Mutua, was strangled in Iten.
The murder of Olympic runner Rebecca Cheptegei in September by her former partner reignited calls for stronger action against femicide in Kenya. The 33-year-old Ugandan died days after being doused in petrol and set alight by her ex-boyfriend at her home in Trans Nzoia County in Western Kenya.
“My heart breaks anytime I hear news of an athlete losing her life from GBV,” she added.
Reflecting on her performance in Chicago, Chepng’etich revealed that she was aiming for a world record thanks to her training schedule.
“I was expecting good results in Chicago. The world record was in my mind. What made Chicago easy was I was training hard, especially long runs, fitness, and speedwork. There is no shortcut to that,” she admitted.
Her efforts not only set a new standard but also brought both the men’s and women’s marathon records to Kenyan athletes, a feat that fills her with pride.
“That feels great that Kenyans have such talent. I am happy,” she shared.
Looking ahead, Chepng’etich hinted at her aspirations to conquer other major marathon events, such as the London and New York Marathons.
Though she last claimed a World Championship title five years ago, she expressed a keen interest in reclaiming the championship crown if selected for the Tokyo World Championships. She won the world title in the marathon at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, clocking 2:32:43.
But first things first; the history-maker is focused on resting and recovering after an amazing year.
Her accomplishments have also earned her a spot among the finalists for the 2024 Athlete of the Year awards. Her world-record run at Chicago, which knocked nearly two minutes off Tigist Assefa’s previous record of 2:11:53, not only set a new benchmark for women’s marathon times but has also solidified her standing as one of the world’s most remarkable athletes.
