TEGLA LOROUPE
| DATE OF BIRTH | May 9, 1973 |
| GENDER | Female |
| OCCUPATION | Athlete |
Biography
Tegla Loroupe is a former long-distance track and road runner. She was the first African woman to win the New York City Marathon and has held many world records from 20km to the marathon.
Following her retirement, she now devotes much of her time to humanitarian and peace activities, through her Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation.
Early Life Tegla Loroupe
Tegla Loroupe was born in Kutomwony, West Pokot District, Kenya, located in the Rift Valley north of Nairobi.
Growing up among 24 siblings with her father having four wives, the former athlete spent her childhood working in the fields and caring for her younger siblings.
From an early age, she was known by the nickname Chametia, meaning “the one who never gets annoyed,” reflecting her cheerful nature.
At seven, Loroupe began attending school, making a daily barefoot run of ten kilometers each morning. It was at school that her running talent was first recognized, with early races typically spanning 800 to 1500 meters.
Despite her potential, support for her running dreams was limited, except from her mother and older sister.
Additionally, her father once banned her from running, deeming it inappropriate for a girl and insisting she focus on household responsibilities instead.
As such, facing numerous obstacles to her running aspirations, Tegla even considered becoming a nun at one point.
Career
In 1994, Tegla Loroupe won her first major marathon in New York, becoming the first African woman to claim victory at the New York Marathon.
This achievement established her as a significant sporting role model, providing Kenya with a female runner to stand alongside its accomplished male athletes.
Building on this success, Loroupe went on to secure victories in numerous major marathons worldwide. Between 1997 and 1999, she triumphed in three consecutive World Half Marathon Championships.
Additionally, she earned bronze medals in the 10,000 meters at the World Championships in both 1995 and 1999.Thereafter Tegla held the world record for the marathon between19 April 1998 and 30 September 2001.
Foundation
The Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation is dedicated to bringing peace to conflict zones by the power of sport. By calling upon the most admired athletes in every community to act in the Olympics spirit of peace, personal examples can transform how a community sees itself and its neighbors.
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