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New women’s marathon record holder Ruth Chepng’etich has revealed her struggles, frustrations before Paris Olympics and unorthodox training journey.
Sometimes frustrations and pain can push even the strongest to the brink and for Ruth Chepng’etich, the journey to greatness was almost cut short by despair.
The world marathon record holder recently revealed that she contemplated quitting her running career after being excluded from Kenya’s marathon team for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
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The shocking omission came despite Chepng’etich’s stellar track record, including winning gold at the 2019 World Athletics Championships.
“I was so discouraged and I remember calling my managers in Italy and telling them that I was going to quit running and I just wanted to do other things,” Chepng’etich told Nation.
Her management team was stunned but rallied to persuade her to reconsider.
"You can imagine, they were shocked and they pleaded with me to start training for the second season of marathon," she added.
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The support and faith of her team, combined with her innate resilience, reignited her passion for running.
Slowly, she began to rebuild her confidence, focusing on achieving a long-held dream: breaking the women’s world marathon record.
Chepng’etich’s journey is remarkable not just for her achievements but for her unique approach to training.
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The world record holder works without a coach, an unusual choice in the competitive world of elite athletics.
"Many were amazed when I said that I don’t have a coach, but that’s something that I decided a long time ago," she explained.
"I just follow the programme given by my management team. So far, so good, and I am happy. It is all about being disciplined and following the given programme strictly."
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This self-discipline was forged through years of perseverance, beginning in Kericho in 2015, where she trained tirelessly to make her mark.
It was during one of these rigorous training sessions that former athlete Alex Oleitiptip noticed her keeping pace with male runners, a rare feat that signaled her extraordinary potential.
Recognizing her talent, Oleitiptip introduced her to Rosa Management, an agency that would later shape her international career.
The road to success was not smooth as Chepng’etich’s early races included moments of heartbreak, like failing to finish the Prague Half Marathon in 2016 due to injury.
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These challenges only strengthened her resolve as by 2019, she had achieved global fame by winning gold in the women’s marathon at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Each victory added to her determination to push boundaries, culminating in her record-breaking performance at the Chicago Marathon.
The emotional toll of being left out of the Paris Olympics team, however, brought back memories of past struggles and nearly derailed her career.
The rejection hit especially hard because Chepng’etich had been working to redeem herself after not finishing the marathon in the 2022 World Athletics Championships due to illness.
To be dropped after being named in the provisional team felt like a personal failure, one that she struggled to reconcile.
“I love my daughter, and I am working hard in my career for her. I want to give her the best,” Chepng’etich said, revealing the inner strength that carried her through those dark days.
Her daughter, Shyline Chepkemoi, has been a source of motivation since Chepng’etich’s teenage years when she briefly dropped out of school to give birth.
With her mother’s support she returned to school and later pursued her running career with unwavering determination.
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