ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S new Olympic champion Winfred Yavi was last night awarded her women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase gold medal at Paris 2024.
In the event’s official podium ceremony at the near-81,000-capacity Stade de France, Yavi was honoured alongside silver-medallist Peruth Chemutai of Uganda and Faith Cherotich of Kenya.
Yavi looked overwhelmed with emotion as she stood with pride as Bahrain’s flag was raised and national anthem played as part of the awarding formalities.
Handing out the medals to the steeplechase top three were International Olympic Committee member Danka Bartekova and World Athletics council member Beatrice Ayikoru.
Yavi bagged an historic gold for Team Bahrain on Tuesday night – the kingdom’s first at this year’s Games – after winning the steeplechase final with a new Olympic record of eight minutes 52.76 seconds. She shattered the previous best of 8:58.81, set by Russian Gulnara Samitova-Galkina in Beijing 2008.
Yavi’s Olympic medal is the latest addition to a long list of global accolades for the 24-year-old. She is also the reigning steeplechase world champion, the winner of the 2023 Diamond Trophy, and has captured multiple gold medals at the Asian Games as well as Asian and Arab championships.
Furthermore, Yavi is an Asian and Bahraini record-holder. Her personal best of 8:50.66 is the second-fastest time ever in the event, and her winning mark on Tuesday night was the fourth-fastest in history.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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