Hellen Obiri

Hellen Obiri, born on December thirteenth, nineteen eighty-nine, is a distinguished Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner, renowned for her exceptional achievements in athletics. She has made history as the only woman to secure world titles across indoor track, outdoor track, and cross country disciplines, showcasing her versatility and dominance in the sport.

Obiri's Olympic journey is marked by remarkable performances, earning her two silver medals in the 5,000 metres at the Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo Olympics in two thousand sixteen and two thousand twenty, respectively. Additionally, she showcased her prowess in the 10,000 metres, finishing fourth in Tokyo. Her world championship accolades include victories in the 5,000 metres in two thousand seventeen and two thousand nineteen, where she set a new championship record, along with a bronze medal in the 1,500 metres in two thousand thirteen and a silver in the 10,000 metres in two thousand twenty-two.

In the realm of indoor track, Obiri claimed the gold medal in the 3,000 metres at the two thousand twelve World Indoor Championships, followed by a silver in two thousand fourteen and a fourth-place finish in two thousand eighteen. Her triumph as the 2019 World Cross Country champion further solidified her status as a leading figure in athletics.

Obiri's marathon career began with a stunning victory at the 2023 Boston Marathon, marking her second marathon race. She also earned a bronze medal in the women's marathon at the 2024 Summer Olympics and achieved first place in the 2025 New York City Marathon with a record time of two hours, nineteen minutes, and fifty-one seconds. Her remarkable half marathon performance places her fifth on the world all-time list.

As a former Kenyan national record holder for the mile and the 5,000 metres, Obiri set personal bests of four minutes, sixteen seconds, and fifteen hundredths, and fourteen minutes, eighteen seconds, and thirty-seven hundredths, respectively. In recognition of her influence, she was named one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in two thousand seventeen.