Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa among most read athletes in 2023
World champions Faith Kipyegon and Mary Moraa are among the athletes whose stories were widely read in 2023.
According to World Athletics, Kipyegon, a triple world record breaker, and Moraa attracted a wide readership in a year; they also recorded impressive performances.
Moraa's story that was read widely is the one in which she recalled how her career has grown, the challenges she has faced, and the ambitions she is chasing.
“Athletics has uplifted me, from a nobody to now a somebody, from the poorest of all.
“If I stayed in the village in Kisii, western Kenya, I wouldn’t be known, but my talent has made me known. Yes, athletics has changed my story and my life greatly. It is hard to explain,” Moraa said in the story that captured global attention.
Moraa won one of the three golds Kenya scooped during the World Athletics Championship in Budapest in August. Kisii Express, as the short-distance runner is known, said she did not expect to win in the Hungarian capital.
“I did not expect it; I had so much pressure. There was a lot of tension and questions on whether I could win the 800m because we did not start the season well, but our peak target was the World Championships. I told my coach that I would be thankful for whichever medal I will win – bronze, silver or gold.
“In the call room, the cameras were all over my face. When I moved, the camera moved with me. I was tense. I asked myself, ‘Why can’t they just focus on Athing Mu? She is the reigning world and Olympic champion," she said.
Kipyegon's story
Kipyegon had an extremely successful season, and so she became an attention magnet throughout the year.
Her story that captivated the world was where she and her coach, Patrick Sang, reflected on their work since they started working together.
In the story, she reflects on her record-breaking sprint in Paris during the Diamond League series.
“I didn't have any pressure. I was just going there to enjoy the pace, to enjoy the laps – 12 and a half laps – so I was just going there to lower my personal best and see what was possible at the finish line.
“I had a personal best time of 14:31, and I told my manager that if I run a time of 14:20, I will be happy," Kipyegon said in the widely read piece.
