Kenyan athletes after exchanging vows. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Little is known about the men and women in the lives of our world-beating athletes, some are athletics couples who run together or one is the coach pushing the other.
Mary Keitany and Charles Koech
Mary Keitany and Charles Koech tied the knot in a colorful wedding on New Year’s Eve in 2011 and the two are blessed with two children, son Jared and daughter Samantha. Although Koech did not become successful as an athlete, he has played a major role in making his wife one of the best long distance runners of all time.
Edna Kiplagat and Gilbert Koech
Gilbert Koech and Edna Kiplagat met in the late 90s when they were just novices trying to find their way into the athletics world. They would feature in road races before Koech stepped up to full marathon, making his debut in Las Vegas before he returned to win the San Antonio Marathon in 2009. That seems to have motivated Edna as she returned from maternity leave to win the Los Angeles Marathon in 2010, her second marathon ever, and went on to win the 2010 New York City Marathon as well.
Vivian Cheruiyot and Moses Kiplagat
Four-time World champion Vivian Cheruiyot and former Prisons athletics track star Moses Kiplagat have been married since 2011 and like many female athletes on this list, their partnership has blossomed on the track as well. Not as successful as his wife, Kiplagat has played a major role in Cheruiyot’s career, acting as her coach-cum-manager while the “Pocket Rocket” rules the world.
Asbel Kiprop and Sammary Cherotich
Olympic and triple World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop is one of the most accomplished middles distance runners Kenya has ever produced. He also has won in Cross-Country and All Africa Games. Kiprop is married to Summary Cherotich, a former 3,000m gold medallist who took the crown at the IAAF World Youth Athletics Championships in Ostrava, the Czech Republic in 2007.
Paul Lonyangata and Purity Rionoripo
The two made headlines in April when they conquered Paris Marathon. Paul, 24, crossed the finish line to win the men’s race just a few minutes before his wife Purity, 23, tied up the women’s event. The two, who train together in Iten, met when they were in primary school and as they say, the rest is history.