Most female athletes prefer having babies at the end of their careers. However, the few who give birth at the peak of their careers sometimes end up struggling. TeamKenya.co.ke takes a look at five Kenyan athletes who re-discovered their forms immediately after returning from maternity leave.
Faith Chepng'etich Kipyegon
Faith Kipyegon stayed away from competitive athletics for almost a year. However, when the double Olympics champion returned, she continued to register impressive wins in various races.
A few months after giving birth to her lovely daughter Alyn, the Kaptagat-based sprinter set a 1500m Kenyan record when she finished second at the 2019 World Athletics Championships held in Qatar.
Chepng'etich won nine of the ten races she took part in during the 2021 season. At the recent Tokyo Olympics Games, Kipyegon outpaced her arch-rival, Sifan Hassan, to successfully defend her title.
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Peres Jepchirchir
Reigning Olympic marathon champion, Peres Jepchirchir, is another Kenyan athlete who came back stronger after maternity leave.
Thirteen months after giving birth to her daughter Natalia, Jepchirchir bagged the Lisbon Half Marathon title. She has been unmatchable in the past three years, breaking world records and winning races with ease.
The 28-year-old smashed the women’s only half-marathon world record at the 2020 World Championships staged in Poland. At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Games, Jepchirchir led her compatriot Brigid Kosgei to a 1-2 podium-place finish.
Hellen Obiri
Hellen Musando Obiri maintained her breathtaking form after having her first-born child. The Ngong-based runner comfortably won her first race after a long maternity leave at the 2016 Kenya Defense Forces championships.
She went on to clinch consecutive 5000m titles at the 2017 and 2019 World Athletics championships. Obiri - who has been a regular at Athletic Kenya’s teams - added the 2019 World Cross Country Championships title to her trophy laden cabinet. Her achievement after giving birth has been simply incredible.
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Brigid Kosgei
Brigid Kosgei did not let pregnancy slow down her career. Kosgei, who was blessed with twins in her teens, has produced numerous spectacular performances in the last five years.
She ran an amazing race at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, breaking Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world record. The Elgeyo Marakwet road runner also went on to win several major road races including London and Tokyo marathon titles.
Vivian Cheruiyot
The “Pocket Rocket” - as she is widely known - maintained her brilliant form after giving birth in 2013.
Two years after her maternity leave, Cheruiyot won 5000m gold and 10000m silver medals at the 2016 London Olympic Games. Prior to that historic achievement, she had won the 1000m title at the 2015 Beijing World Championships.
Cheruiyot also registered a first and second place finish at the 2018 and 2019 London marathon editions respectively.