Hellen Obiri becomes second African inductee at the World Athletics Museum
16th December 2023
Obiri’s 2023 Boston Marathon singlet has been displayed on the online 3D platform.
- The athlete has become the second African athlete to have a piece of her sporting gear inducted into the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
- Obiri’s singlet which she wore at the 2023 Boston Marathon has been displayed on the online 3D platform.
- Besides Obiri, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon also has her shoes displayed at the institution thanks to her generosity.
Kenyan runner Hellen Onsando Obiri has achieved an incredible milestone yet again in her impressive career.
The athlete who recently celebrated her 34th birthday has become the second African athlete to have a piece of her sporting gear inducted into the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA).
According to a statement released by the institution, Obiri’s singlet which she wore at the 2023 Boston Marathon has been displayed on the online 3D platform.
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“Competition artefacts from multiple world champions Kenya’s Hellen Obiri (singlet) and USA’s Dan O’Brien (singlet and bodysuit) are among the historic items inducted into the World Athletics Heritage Collection which is displayed on the online 3D platform of the Museum of World Athletics (MOWA),” a statement from MOWA read in part.
The mother of one won her first marathon title in Boston in April when she overcame a star-studded field to cross the finishing line in 2:21.38.
Obiri’s singlet was inducted into the museum alongside artefacts from United States’ international Frank Shorter (t-shirt) and Italy’s Stefano Baldini (running shoes).
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Shorter and Baldini won gold medals for their nations at the 1972 and 2004 Olympic Games respectively.
Besides Obiri, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon also has her shoes displayed at the institution thanks to her generosity.
Kipyegon’s running spikes were donated to MOWA by Sandrine Prokopowicz after the 2023 World Athletics Championships held in Budapest, Hungary.
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“On Saturday 26 August, in the mixed zone in Budapest’s National Athletics Centre, immediately following her 5000m victory, Kipyegon removed her shoes and gifted them to her friend Sandrine Prokopowicz.
Matching the Kenyan’s kindness, Prokopowicz – who is World Athletics’ Technical Services Manager – in turn donated the spikes to the MOWA,” the statement continued.
Among the 11 countries that are represented at the museum, Kenya is the only African nation that has artefacts from its athletes on its display.
The museum which was launched in 2021 is free to access for everyone and it has text commentary in three languages that include French, Spanish and English.
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