ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S reigning world and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi says that “it is time to execute” as she gets set to begin her world-title defence at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Yavi is a heavy favourite to retain her crown in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase and has had a stellar season leading up to international track and field’s showpiece event. But the 25-year-old has had her sights set on one “overall goal”, which is becoming a double world champion this year.
“I am remaining focused on the overall goal,” Yavi told the GDN in an exclusive interview. “I have a lot of respect for all my competitors; however, I realise what my goal is and I am going to chase it.
“It is time to execute.”
Yavi has already arrived in the Japanese capital and is scheduled to begin her gold medal bid tomorrow with her event’s heats. She will be competing amongst a top-quality field of elite steeplechasers from around the world, but is widely expected to advance to the final, which will be held on Wednesday.
“The sport is at a very high level, which is a good thing for future athletes as well,” Yavi said.
Yavi notes that she and her team are pleased with her preparations heading into Tokyo. Aside from her rigorous training programme, Yavi has also competed in five steeplechase races over the course of World Athletics’ outdoor season, winning three of her events and finishing as runner-up the other two times. Her season’s best is a blistering eight minutes 45.25 seconds – the third-fastest mark all-time in the discipline, which she registered in a Wanda Diamond League meeting last July in the US.
“Training has been going on well this year and we are pleased with the progress so far,” Yavi explained. “I feel ready both physically and mentally – it has not been easy as I have had to be deliberate to work on both of these, but I have the greatest team around me to support.”
Yavi also owns the second-fastest women’s 3,000m steeplechase mark in history of 8:44.39, which is her personal best and an Asian and Bahraini record. She set it last year, and it is just seven-hundredths of a second behind the current world record of 8:44.32, held by Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya, set in 2018.
While she has attempted to shatter that all-time mark in recent races, Yavi stresses that the world championship gold will be the only thing on her mind when she takes to the track at Japan’s nearly 70,000-capacity National Stadium.
“We are remaining fully focused on our primary goal, which is to become a double world champion,” Yavi said.
“On race week, I will continue to do everything that will enable me to be in the best shape possible for the start line.”
Yavi expressed her appreciation for the “unwavering” support she receives from the kingdom’s athletics fans, which she says gives her a boost.
“I am extremely grateful to my fans in Bahrain – over the years, your support has been unwavering,” Yavi said. “This has truly contributed to my success, and keep cheering me on – we keep moving.”
‘Keep moving’ is Yavi’s mantra, and she is all set to power ahead for the latest major accolade of her already glittering athletics career.
Yavi captured her maiden steeplechase world title in the previous edition of the world championships in 2023 held in Budapest, Hungary. She clocked a time of 8:54.29 in the final – currently the event’s 16th-fastest mark all-time and the world lead at that time.
Yavi is one of six Bahraini elite athletes who have been crowned world champions in the sport’s history. The others are fellow-superstar athlete Salwa Eid Naser, who is also competing in Tokyo, Rashid Ramzi, Maryam Yusuf Jamal, Yusuf Saad Kamel, and Rose Chelimo.
Ramzi and Jamal are both double world champions.
They have spearheaded a 14-medal haul for the kingdom so far, including eight gold, three silver, and three bronze medals.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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