Jepchirchir (right) and Assefa are both runners from East Africa - Photo: REUTERS
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won the gold medal in the women's marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 43 seconds. The silver medalist, Tigst Assefa from Ethiopia, was just two seconds slower.
The dominance of the East African group
This was a truly iconic race, because for over three decades, long-distance races (1,500m and above) have been almost exclusively contested between three East African nations: Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Kenya, in particular, dominated among them.
At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Kenyan team won a total of 11 medals, all in running. Four of those were gold medals – in the men's 800m, women's 1,500m, women's 5,000m, and women's 10,000m. Ethiopia was equally impressive with legendary names like Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie, who broke the world records in the 10,000m and marathon. Uganda, though smaller, rose strongly with Joshua Cheptegei – the 2019 and 2023 world champion in the 10,000m, and also holding the world records in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m.
According to World Athletics statistics, since 2000, more than 70% of the medals in the men's 5,000m and 10,000m races at the Olympics have gone to athletes from these three countries. In marathon running, Kenya and Ethiopia have alternated in dominance, from Eliud Kipchoge to Abebe Bikila, creating a tradition the world calls "highland strength".
What caused this phenomenon?
First and foremost, geography is fundamental. All three countries possess highlands at altitudes ranging from 2,000m to over 2,500m above sea level. Places like Iten and Eldoret (Kenya), Bekoji (Ethiopia), and Kapchorwa (Uganda) have become the "cradle" of world athletics. The thin air on the highlands forces the body to adapt by producing more red blood cells, increasing its oxygen-carrying capacity.
When competing at sea level, this advantage becomes apparent. An analysis in the Journal of Applied Physiology (2017) stated: "Living and training long-term in a highland environment creates a lasting physiological effect that no short-term training camp in Europe or America can fully replicate."
Genetic factors also play a significant role. The Kalenjin people of Kenya, the Oromo people of Ethiopia, and the Sabiny people of Uganda possess body types considered optimal for endurance running: tall and slender, with long legs and small ankles and wrists.
Geneticist Yannis Pitsiladis (University of Glasgow) – who has spent many years researching East African ethnic groups – suggests that this helps reduce energy expenditure per stride, increasing long-distance running efficiency.
Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya won the gold medal in the women's marathon at the 2025 World Athletics Championships with a time of 2 hours 24 minutes and 43 seconds - Photo: REUTERS
Running to escape poverty
The socio-cultural aspects are what truly make the difference. In rural Kenya or Ethiopia, children often run for miles to school every day. This early physical exertion instills natural endurance. For many young Kenyans, running is not just a sport, but a chance to change their lives.
Furthermore, the domestic training environment is also extremely competitive. In Kenya, thousands of young athletes compete for spots on the Iten or Eldoret running teams every year. The intense competition forces them to improve their performance to world-class levels in order to have any hope of being selected to compete. Similarly, in Ethiopia, the small town of Bekoji has produced many legends such as Derartu Tulu, Kenenisa Bekele, and Tirunesh Dibaba.
Another commonality is the climate. The East African highlands are cool year-round with little rainfall, making them ideal for long-distance outdoor running. While many countries rely on stadiums or gyms, athletes in Eldoret or Arsi can train on red dirt roads year-round, fostering natural endurance.
It's impossible to overlook the power of mental strength. For East Africans, athletics medals not only hold sporting value but also represent national pride. Eliud Kipchoge, the Kenyan marathon icon, is famous for saying: "Running is life. When I run, I feel free, and I want to share that with the world."
Before science and technology reached Africa, and vice versa, runners from impoverished mountainous regions did not have the opportunity to compete in world championships; long-distance running was still in the hands of white people. For the past two decades or so, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda have shown the running world the strength of bare feet honed on barren land.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-nguoi-kenya-chay-khoe-20250914210244604.htm
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