Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi delivered a record-breaking performance in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, clinching gold with a new Olympic record of 8:52.76.
Yavi, a 24-year-old Kenyan-born athlete, shattered the previous record of 8:58.81, set by Russia’s Gulnara Samitova-Galkina in Beijing in 2008, and Yavi’s stunning time surpassed Samitova-Galkina’s mark and the times posted by the silver and bronze medallists, demonstrating a truly dominant performance in the event.
Peruth Chemutai of Uganda claimed the silver medal with a time of 8:53.34, while Kenya’s Faith Cherotich took bronze with a time of 8:55.15. Remarkably, all three medallists and fourth-placed Alice Finot of France, who also broke the previous Olympic record, showcased an extraordinary level of competition.
Yavi’s victory is particularly notable for Bahrain, marking only the third time an athlete from the Gulf nation has won Olympic gold. She follows in the footsteps of Ruth Jebet, who won the same event at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
In a post-race interview, Yavi shared her exhilaration: “This is like a dream come true. It’s something special. It means a lot to me and also to the country.”
Yavi’s path to Olympic glory has been a remarkable journey. Originally from Kenya, she chose to represent Bahrain after several unsuccessful attempts to qualify for the Kenyan national team. Her achievement underscores a significant milestone for her career and Bahrain’s athletics history.
