Abraham Kibiwot earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympics, marking his first-ever Olympic medal. The achievement was made even more poignant as it came just six days after the birth of his daughter, Angle Kyla Chemutai.
The 28-year-old Kenyan steeplechaser delivered a remarkable performance, finishing with a season’s best time of 8:06.47. The race was a fiercely contested affair, with Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali clinching gold in 8:06.05, and American Kenneth Rooks taking silver with a personal best of 8:06.41.
Kibiwot’s emotional victory was dedicated to his newborn daughter, whom he described as a blessing. "This is a big achievement for me," Kibiwot said. "I dedicate this medal to my daughter. She came as a blessing to me. I ran a good race. It’s my first time to get a medal in the Olympics. I thank my family and Athletics Kenya for this achievement."
Despite the personal milestone, Kibiwot expressed a determined outlook for future competitions. "We hoped this would be a race for Kenya, but I was number three. At the next few Olympics and world championships, the steeplechase glory will return to Kenya," he affirmed.
Kibiwot's dedication and recent triumph add a significant chapter to Kenya's storied history in track and field, demonstrating that even in moments of personal joy, athletes can rise to meet the world's greatest challenges.
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