Raising champions: The Kenyan town where female athletes are fighting to win on and off the track

Al Jazeera English published this video item, entitled “Raising champions: The Kenyan town where female athletes are fighting to win on and off the track” – below is their description.

Renowned for their stamina, strength and speed, Kenyan runners have won 34 Olympic gold medals and countless marathons. Many train in Iten, a rural town in the high altitudes of the Rift Valley.

Situated among acres of maize fields and pine trees, with cool air and endless dirt trails, Iten is a runner’s dream, attracting athletes from around the world. Aspiring professional athletes train in camps dotted across the town, running in large packs from early morning.

While Iten has been lauded as the perfect training ground, the recent murder of world record holder Agnes Tirop, who was killed in 2021 shocked many, exposing Kenya’s issues with gender-based violence.

In this episode of A Sense of Community, a four-part series about the challenges unique neighbourhoods around the world face, we meet the Kenyan female athletes chasing glory – while seeking to upend the status quo.

#Kenya #Society #Community #Running #Sports #Marathon #Olympics #Travel #Women #Gender

Credits:

Episode Producers: Michael Onyiego, Aun Qi Koh, Rael Ombuor

Creator and Series Producer: Drew Ambrose

Cinematographers: Craig Hansen, Michael Onyiego

3rd Unit Camera: Hasham Cheema

Drone Operators (Iten): Qip Photography, Big Lenses Studio, Boen Kiprop

Drone Operator (Nairobi): Klein Nettoh

Graphics: Marc Keke Robertson

Music: Vicki Hansen

Picture Editor: Adrian Billing

Digital Producer: Hasham Cheema

Cover Art: Row Yow

Production Manager: Susanna Low

Senior Producer: Liz Gooch

Supervising Producer: Nick Olle

Executive Producer: Sharon Roobol

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Al Jazeera English YouTube Channel

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About This Source - Al Jazeera English

The video item below is a piece of English language content from Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera is a Qatari state-funded broadcaster based in Doha, Qatar, owned by the Al Jazeera Media Network.

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