AK’s welfare meetings for athletes start
It is emerging that many young Kenyan athletes are suffering silently as they try to cope with many demands placed on their shoulders.
The revelations came out as the first of Athletics Kenya Consultative Meetings’ commenced in Ngong, Kajiado County, yesterday.
It comes in the wake of the shocking death last month of the 2015 World Cross Country gold medallist Agnes Tirop who was found murdered at her home in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County.
The aim of the meetings is to help officials to get feedback that will result in lasting solutions for the many problems experienced by athletes including abuse and poor investment decisions.
AK is of the view that inviting elite athletes only for seminars and workshops in a central place would lock out many other runners who have pressing needs. AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnaba Korir admitted the meetings are coming at the right time and therefore will address the many underlying issues especially among young athletes.
Korir says there is a missing link in the social life of young athletes, an area that needs urgent attention. The relations between coaches and the young athletes was also discussed.
“How do the coaches relate with the young athletes? Do they have mechanisms for discussing real issues besides running? You find that under-20 athletes once they succeed get married immediately,” said Korir.
Korir further said young athletes should also be taught how they handle fame once they start getting money.
Over 260 athletes were in attendance led by world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri and Chicago Marathon winner Ruth Chepng’etich.
Obiri urged the athletes not to be ashamed to walk out of their marriages when things are not working out.
“Life is precious and therefore every individual has full control of theirs. We should desist from fearing what people will say. You owe society nothing.
This is for all athletes, not just women. Various male athletes are also suffering, so we have to address the matter collectively,” she added. The double World champion and two time Olympic silver medalist also advised athletes to do due diligence before settling down.
“It is not easy to advise an athlete with money. They will not listen. So that is a big challenge that if we can work on, we can have a better society,” she added.
Chepng’etich said the death of Tirop should be a wake up call.
“Never should this happen again. Despite being a sad occasion, I think it will open the discussion we should be having going forward,” said the Ngong-based runner.
After the Ngong meeting, the officials head to Machakos County on Tuesday and Kigari in Embu on Wednesday.
The fourth meeting will be in Nyeri, followed by another in Nyahururu, Nyandarua County, on Friday.
Also in attendancewas AK Senior Vice President in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii, who was impressed with the huge turnout of athletes.
“We have changed the approach from the traditional seminars involving professional talking to athletes mostly on investment and doping,” said Mutwii.
“In this edition we are having a discussion with athletes on various issues with the most important being on their social issues. This should not mean we shall forget about doping because we want to make sure we get out of category A status.”
