Hellen Obiri
Hellen Onsando Obiri (born 13 December 1989) is a Kenyan middle- and long-distance runner. She is a two-time world champion after winning the 5000 metres in 2017 and again in 2019, when she set a new championship record. Obiri took bronze for the 1500 metres in 2013. She is a two time Olympic 5000m silver medallist from the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she also placed fourth over the 10,000 metres. She won the 3000 metres race at the 2012 World Indoor Championships, took silver in 2014, and placed fourth in 2018. She  holds the Kenyan national records for the mile, 3000 metres both out and indoors, and 5000 metres events. In March 2019, Obiri won the women's senior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship. She places fifth in the half marathon on the world all-time list. She was cited as one of the Top 100 most influential Africans by New African magazine in 2017. Career. Helen Obiri gained her first international experience at the 2011 Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won the bronze medal for the 800 metres and placed fourth in the 1500  metres. In 2012, she took her first global title competing at the World Indoor Championships held in Istanbul, clocking 8:37.16 over the 3000 metres. After bronze for the 1500m event at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow, Obiri earned the silver medal in the 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Sopot a year later. She finished behind only multiple world record-holder Genzebe Dibaba. In 2014, she added 1500m title from the African Championships. At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Obiri competed in the 5000 metres and earned the silver medal in a time of 14:29.77, behind  compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot in an Olympic record of 14:26.17 and ahead of Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana who ran 14:33.59. Obiri represented Kenya at the 2017 World Championships in London and won the gold medal for the 5000m event ahead of Almaz Ayana and Sifan Hassan. In March 2019, Obiri won the women's senior race at the IAAF World Cross Country Championship. The event took place in Aarhus, Denmark. She won the 10.2 km race in a time of 36:14. After she posted best times of the year in the 5000 metres in 2017 and 2018, Obiri won the  event at the Doha World Championships in October, setting a championship record of 14:26.72 in the process. Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi and Konstanze Klosterhalfen finished second and third, respectively. Obiri represented Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in both the women's 5000m and 10,000 metres events. She won the silver medal at the former in a time of 14:38.36, finishing behind only Hassan who ran 14:36.79; Gudaf Tsegay took bronze in 14:38.87. Obiri placed fourth in the 10,000 metres final in a personal best behind Hassan, Kalkidan Gezahegne and Letesenbet Gidey.