Sportswomen suffering in silence, says Syombua
National 400m record holder Hellen Syombua, speaks during the Athletics Kenya National Consultative Forum in Nyeri, yesterday.
What you need to know:
- Hellen Syombua , a 400m race specialist, has said many athletes are going through a lot of problems, including GBV, and the best thing is to open up and avoid such scenarios in future.
- The County Executive Committee member of Education and Sports in Nyeri County Margaret Macharia, said we have lost some of our good athletes under funny circumstances and that love should not be a deathbed.
Kenya's 400 metres national record holder Hellen Syombua has said no woman should go through gender-based violence in this country.
She lauded the Athletics Kenya for organising the ongoing national forums during the tour in Nyeri where athletes presented views on their social welfare.
Syombua, who was in Team Kenya for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with the late former World Cross Country champion Agnes Tirop, said that many people are going through a lot of problems and the best thing is to open up and avoid such scenarios in future.
She said many women are suffering in silence and Tirop’s death was widely reported because she was an international athlete.
“The forums will open our eyes as athletes and this is a game changer because we have a lot of people going through gender-based violence. My advice for the married couples is to always listen to one another and try to solve issues in an amicable manner so that we don’t end up losing lives. Violence is unacceptable,” said Syombua.
Get wealth
The 400m specialist also warned upcoming female athletes to be on the lookout and beware of preying coaches and husbands who want to get wealth through their (athletes) sweat.
Syombua said that she is eyeing a place in next year’s World Championships in Eugene, USA.
“We have started another season and I will be working hard because I still don’t have the time to compete in the World Championships and my first assignment is to qualify for the games next year,” she added.
Judy King’ori, a sprinter, said that there is a disconnect between the local officials and athletes, adding that many talents stagnate due to lack of guidance.
“My plea is to ask the federation to make sure they recruit many coaches and chaperones to guide sprouting talents in various fields,” said King’ori.
The forum also saw athletes request the federation, county and the national governments to speed up the completion of Ruring'u Stadium in Nyeri, which has been under renovation for more than five years.
Marital problems
The County Executive Committee (CEC) member of Education and Sports in Nyeri County Margaret Macharia also asked athletes to take care of one another and always listen to their seniors as one way of ending marital problems.
“We have lost some of our good athletes under funny circumstances and we need to support them to invest. Love should not be a deathbed,” said the CEC.
During the forum, stakeholders are given an opportunity to air their grievances before holding separate sessions, which consists of female and male athletes, and coaches.
Today, the forum shall be held in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County where more than 100 athletes are expected to attend.
