Tegla Chepkite Loroupe, born in Kutomwony village in West Pokot County, is a long distance runner, an educationists, a peace champion and an activist for the human right. Her contribution towards global peace is admirable. Raised in a war torn region, a region where cattle rustling is a norm, she has initiated different mechanisms to ensure peace returns to the region.
Here are some things you need to know about Tegla.
10. She was brought up in a polygamous family; her father had four wives and 24 children.
9. She preferred running bare footed. She participated in 1988 cross country race and 1998 10,000 m at Goodwill Games bare footed. She bought running shoes in 1989, but she rarely used them, unless in rough races.
8. She was the first African woman to win the New York City Marathon.
7. She was named the United nations ambassador of sports by Koffi Anan in 2006.
6. She is the founder of Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation. The foundation sponsors the Tegla Loroupe marathon through the slogan ‘peace through sports’.
5. She established Tegla Loroupe peace academy, an orphanage for needy children from Kapenguria in West Pokot.
4. She was named the winner of the Kenya sports personality of the year award in 2007, category of the community hero.
3. She studied at Kapsait Elementary School, a time when girl child education was not prioritized in the region. It’s only her mother that was concerned about her education.
2. In 2007, she was named the Oxfam Ambassador of Sports and Peace in Darfur. She attended various diplomatic mission in an attempt to bring peace into the war torn region of Sudan.
1. She was named the ambassador for the Homeless World Cup in 2015. The social organization aims at ending homelessness in the world by use of sports.
By Felix Vincent. O
