Kenya, South Africa Celebrate Athletes’ Success on Return from World Championships

Posted : 24 September 2025

Kenya’s national athletics team was greeted with jubilation on Tuesday after an impressive showing at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where they finished second overall behind the United States. The East African giants secured a total of 11 medals — seven gold, two silver, and two bronze — reaffirming their dominance in middle- and long-distance events.

At Nairobi’s main airport, fans, officials, and family members welcomed the champions with song and cheer. Draped in tinsel and wearing traditional wreaths, the athletes were carried through the crowd in celebration of their achievement.

Faith Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic champion, made history by winning her fourth consecutive women’s 1500m world title. “We knew that we had accomplished the impossible,” she said, adding that it was inspiring to see Kenya dominate from the 800m to the marathon.

Beatrice Chebet, who captured gold in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, expressed her ambition to add Olympic titles to her resume. She joined Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba and Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot as the only women to double in both events at a world championship.

The celebrations also highlighted the achievements of Lilian Odira and Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who triumphed in the women’s and men’s 800m, respectively. Kenyan coach Alex Sang hailed the country’s continued status as Africa’s powerhouse in athletics, though the success comes amid warnings from the World Anti-Doping Agency about potential sanctions due to repeated violations by Kenyan athletes.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s track and field squad also received a warm welcome after their campaign in Tokyo. The men’s 4x400m relay team, featuring Wayde van Niekerk, Zakithi Nene, Lythe Pillay, Udeme Okon, Gardeo Isaacs, and Leendert Koekemoer, secured bronze, marking South Africa’s first World Championships medal since 2017.

Van Niekerk, who also reached the 200m semifinals, was proud to add a relay medal to his collection of global honors. “This time around I was exposed to the team element of this sport,” said the 400m world record holder, emphasizing the unity and promise within the squad.

Team leader Jean Verster praised the progress of the South African team, noting several top-10 finishes across different events, a clear sign of growing depth and potential in the nation’s athletics program.

The next World Athletics Championships will take place in Beijing, China, in 2027.

Kenya, South Africa Celebrate Athletes’ Success on Return from World Championships

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