Whether planned or not, Kenya’s athletics scene has been in celebratory mode for the last three months. This time, however, the celebrations are not due to road or track exploits. Some of the Olympic, world and national champions have received bundles of joy, which will definitely impact their lives socially and careerwise.
Following the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2025 World Athletics Championships, there are no major championship events until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics next year.
The latest to welcome a baby is Beatrice Chebet, the reigning double Olympic and world 10,000m and 5,000m champion. With her husband and coach, Peter Bii, they have welcomed a baby boy.
Kenya's Beatrice Chebet crosses the line to win the Women's 10,000m at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, on September 13, 2025.
Photo credit: Sarah Meyssonnier | Reuters
After teasing her followers on social media, Chebet announced the birth on Monday, shortly after Olympic and world 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and his wife, fellow middle-distance runner Nelly Chepchirchir, welcomed a baby girl named Noellah.
Meanwhile, the reigning world under-20 800m champion, Sarah Moraa — who is also the 2024 Africa 800 m champion — disappeared after the World Athletics Championships, leaving fans eager to know her whereabouts.
Well, Moraa and her husband, two-time national 200m champion Zablon Ekwam, welcomed their baby girl three months ago.
On June 19, Chebet posted a photo with the Olympic and world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon, celebrating their one-two finish in the 5000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, on Facebook and Instagram. The two-time world cross-country champion then posted another photo of herself abroad with the caption, ‘Walking in favour this Friday, full of grace and gratitude.’
Sarah Moraa wins the 800m during 2nd Athletics Kenya Meeting at Ulinzi Sports Complex on January 6, 2024.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
The photo sparked discussion about whether it was her latest photo or an old one, given that she had no baby bump, unlike in photos she had shared of her baby shower on May 5.
Then, on June 21, Chebet posted another photo on Facebook and Instagram taken at the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, alongside the caption, ‘Back in time...”
In January, Chebet announced that she was taking a break from running as she was expecting her first child with Bii.
She indicated that she hopes to bounce back and defend her world titles next year in Beijing. Then it’s on to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028.
Then, on Monday at 7.20pm, the moment many people had been waiting for came when she posted a photo of a baby on her Facebook and Instagram pages with the status: ‘Tiny hands, tiny feet, and a love so big! A beautiful new chapter begins. Welcome to our world, our sweet little baby boy.”
“He’s here... Our hearts are full, and our lives are forever changed. We are blessed,” said Chebet, indicating that the child was born on June 11.
Bii hinted that he would name his son after his late father, Paul Rugutt.
On the eve of the Oslo Diamond League, which was held on June 10, Wanyonyi disclosed that he had skipped the Stockholm Diamond League, opting to dash back home after the Rabat Diamond League on May 31 to be with his expectant wife.
During the pre-Oslo Diamond League press conference, Wanyonyi announced that his wife had given birth to a baby girl on June 4. He went on to secure second place, dedicating his upcoming season to his newborn daughter.
Coincidentally, Chepchirchir gave birth on her 23rd birthday.
While Wanyonyi won the world title in Tokyo last year, Chepchirchir finished fourth in the women’s 1,500 metres final, where Kipyegon secured her record-breaking fourth victory.
Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi celebrates winning the gold medal at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo on September 20, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
Chepchirchir made her world championship debut in Budapest, Hungary in 2023, where she also reached the final and finished fifth, while Kipyegon dominated.
She reached the semi-finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Wanyonyi claimed gold.
Ekwam, who won bronze in the 4x400 metre mixed relay at last year’s World Relays in Guangzhou, China, has just retained his national 200 metre title, qualifying him for the Commonwealth Games, which are scheduled to take place from July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.
Moraa’s star began to rise when she won the African title in Cameroon in June last year, before going on to win the World Under-20 title in Lima, Peru, in August of the same year.
Last year, Moraa narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing fourth at the World Championships with a personal best of 1:55.74. Meanwhile, compatriot Lilian Odira claimed gold, breaking the 42-year-old championship record with a time of 1:54.62.
Moraa is now the third fastest Kenyan woman in the 800 metres, behind only Pamela Jelimo (1:54.01) and Odira (1:54.62).
Nelly Chepchirchir wins 800m heat during World Under-20 Championships pre-trials at Nyayo National Stadium on November 21, 2020.
Photo credit: File | Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
