Today March 5th 2021 Africa, Africa Sports Ventures Group and the rest of the world looks to Kenya, a country revered for long distance runners. And today it is none other than Tegla Chepkite Loroupe.
The retired Kenyan long distance runner now turned a global spokesperson and activist for peace, women's rights and education, was born on the 9th May 1973. In her glittering sports career, Loroupe has held the world records for 25 and 30 kilometres half marathons and the world marathon record. Loroupe is a woman of firsts in Africa's long distance running discipline among women. She was the first African woman to hold the marathon World Record, which she held from 19 April 1998 until 30 September 2001. She is the three-time World Half-Marathon champion.
The 47 year old is also the first woman from Africa to win the New York City Marathon, which she has won twice.
Her win in the New York marathon garnered Loroupe admiration from young Africans and inspired many to follow in her footsteps. Loroupe has also won marathons in London, Rotterdam, Hong Kong, Berlin and Rome. Since retiring from active athletics, Loroupe has used her fame to undertake humanitarian causes and fight for peace in Africa. Some of her philanthropic achievements include: United Nations Ambassador of Sport (2006), International Sports ambassador for the IAAF and UNICEF, Annual Peace Race, Oxfam Ambassador of Sport and Peace to Darfur (2007), Tegla Loroupe Peace academy, Tegla Loroupe Peace Training Camp, named " Community Hero" at Kenyan Sports Personality of The Year awards (2007) She has been instrumental in bringing together warring tribal factions in East Africa and helping them to set aside their differences and put their weapons down through sport. The later saw the creation of district, tribal and regional councils for peace and economic development, instigating warrior to give up raiding as a way of life. #ChooseToChallenge #asvgchoosetochallenge
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