Swiss sportswear company signs Kenyan teenager after running barefoot
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 14.02.26. | 15:42
On is home to Kenyan great Hellen Obiri and back-to-back Olympics steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali, among other stars
Swiss sportswear brand On has signed 18-year-old Kenyan athletics sensation Mercy Chepngeno to a NIL deal.
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Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals allow student-athletes to earn compensation from third parties, such as brands or collectives, for endorsements, appearances, and social media promotions.
These agreements, which differ from school-paid revenue, must represent fair market value.
On is a Swiss athletic shoe and performance sportswear company that designs and markets sports clothing and running shoes.
The partnership marks a significant milestone for Chepngeno, a Form 3 student at Chagaik Secondary School in Kenya, as she joins the ranks of elite global student-athletes representing the brand.
Born in the village of Lesirwo, Kericho County, Kenya, Chepngeno captured the hearts of the running world in 2024 when photos of her competing barefoot at the KSSSA Regional Levels in Kapsabet went viral.
Since then, she has dominated the junior ranks, recently securing gold in both the 3,000m steeplechase and 1,500m at the 2026 Track and Field Open in Thika, Kenya, and Silver at the Africa U-20 Championships in Nigeria last year.
Under the guidance of her coach, Rono, Chepngeno has utilised the high-altitude tea estate paths of Kericho to sharpen her skills, establishing a recent trajectory that confirms her status as a future powerhouse.
In 2025, she became a Double National Champion in the 1,500m and 2,000m at the KSSSA Games, followed by a gold medal performance at an Athletic Kenya Weekend Meet in Machakos that October.
Her momentum continued onto the continental stage in December 2025, where she secured silver in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Africa U-20 Championships in Nigeria.
Most recently, in January 2026, she solidified her dominance by becoming a double gold medalist in the 1500m and 3000m steeplechase at the Thika Weekend Meet.
“At On, we believe that the future of athletics is built by supporting athletes like Mercy who balance immense talent with an incredible work ethic,” said Libby Davidson, NIL Athlete Manager at On.
“Mercy’s double win in Thika and her silver at the Africa U-20 Championships prove she is a star in the making. We are proud to provide the gear and support she needs to pursue her dreams on the track and her ambitions to become a doctor.”