Kenya boasts a long list of iconic Kenyan athletes who have dominated in various track and field events and other disciplines. U.S. President Donald Trump recently acknowledged Kenyan athletes for their prowess on the tracks and marveled at their ability to excel in sports.
Some of the most popular Kenyan athletes include Eliud Kipchoge and David Rudisha. The former was the first man to run a marathon under two hours, and the latter is the 800m world record holder.
What Did Donald Trump Say About Kenyan Athletes?
President Trump hosted African leaders at the White House for a meeting, and Kenyan President William Ruto was one of the attendees. When Trump took the mic, he couldn’t help but talk about the tenacity of Kenyan athletes.
Trump spoke about the upcoming Olympics and expressed excitement to host Ruto when the time comes. He noted that Kenyans tend to excel as competitors, and wondered out loud about what could be the source of their dominance on the tracks.
”The President of Kenya. We have the Olympics here, and you know, they do very well in the Olympics, those runners, I don’t know what the heck you do with those runners, but they are very good. I’ve been watching them for a long time,” he said.
”So, we have the Olympics coming to the United States, you know that. Thank you very much, and you’ll come as our guests, thank you,” he added.
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Notably, Trump’s statements were met with light laughter and applause from audience members who also seemed to agree with his observations.
5 Most Popular Kenyan Athletes of All Time
1 Eliud Kipchoge
Kipchoge came into the limelight in 2003, when he won the 5000m World Championship at the age of 18. He won gold in the 2016 Rio Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and became the first person to run a marathon in under two hours in 2019.
2 David Rudisha
Rudisha is a two-time Olympic gold medalist and the 800m world record holder. He achieved the iconic feat in 2012, having completed the race in 1:40:91. He is also the first person to run under 1:41.
3 Faith Kipyegon
Another notable Kenyan athlete is Faith Kipyegon, the world’s best 1500m runner. She won Olympic gold medals in Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 1500m.
4 Paul Tergat
Paul Tergat’s athletic dominance dates back to the 1990s. He won five consecutive World Cross Country Championship titles between 1995 and 1999, and in 2003, became the first Kenyan man to set a world record in a marathon. He achieved the impressive feat in Berlin, completing the race in 2:04:55.
5 Catherine Ndereba
One of Catherine Ndereba’s most iconic accomplishments includes her two World Championship titles and victories at the Boston Marathon. She also won two Olympic silver medals in Athens in 2004 and Beijing in 2008.
