Former world 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei is giving back to the community through mentoring and guiding budding athletes to be next stars in athletics.
Jepkosgei better known as 'Eldoret Express' trains young athletes from her county Nandi and neighboring counties at her training camp.
The former 800m world champion said instead of giving handouts to people, which will not sustain them for their livelihood, it's better to train and allow them to compete, win and earn something from their sweat. Jepkosgei wants athletes to also focus on education and not athletics only in order to develop an all-round person in society. That is the culture she is trying to inculcate in younger athletes at her Kapchemoiywo Training Camp in Nandi County.And to actualize this, she is also building a girl's secondary school at her home village.
Jepkosgei-after initiating a community race-discovered that there is huge talent in society. It is through that race which triggered her to start training young athletes from the area who had potential to be great athletes.
They have identified over 15 young athletes whom she is nurturing .Among them is Emmanuel Wanyonyi who recently won gold in 800m at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi.
Jepkosgei also said athletes need more education on doping and it's dangers at an early stage in order to appreciate sport and the need to compete cleanly.
“Let us teach the young ones about doping.I am sure many athletes competed without doping, and if they get someone to tell them about it,I am sure they will win the war on doping.” Jepkosgei said.
She is targeting junior athletes from different primary and secondary schools not only in the area but also neighbouring counties as well. Jepkosgei, who won her maiden gold medal at the world championships in 2007 in Osaka, Japan, says she has started a programme dubbed ‘All for Learning’, an academy that is aimed at changing the next generation of athletes.
“At the moment I am coaching young athletes, encouraging them to be good people in future,” said Jepkosgei who announced her entry on the global scene in 2002 when she won gold at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica.
Jepkosgei ventured into athletics out of her love of watching athletes compete in various championships which moved her to start training. She has mentored many athletes including former world 800m champion Eunice sum.