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- 82 of the world’s 100 fastest women are from Ethiopia and Kenya
- Rift Valley produces great middle- and long-distance runners
- High-altitude training a factor in runners’ performance
Of the world’s 100 fastest female runners, 86 are African. Of those, 82 come from Kenya and Ethiopia.
Tegla Loroupe, the first African female athlete to set a world marathon record, is Kenyan, as is Faith Kipyegon, who became the first woman to break the 3.50 barrier for the 1,500m in June last year. A week later, she set a world record for the 5,000m.
Many of these elite East African runners were born in particular regions in their home countries. The Rift Valley in Kenya, for example, has produced some of the world’s finest runners.
Researchers say a combination of factors make the people living in the Rift Valley strong distance runners, including high-intensity training at high altitude, running from a young age, a traditional starch-heavy diet and a strong motivation to make good money.
Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir won £44,000 when she set the new record for a women’s only marathon in London in April with a time of 2:16:16.
— 21 May, 2024Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for more charts like this
