Winfred Yavi hails HM King’s support in historic Olympic win

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune - www.newsofbahrain.com   

Bahrain’s pride Winfred Yavi has credited her historic victory in the 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Paris Olympics to the unwavering support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. Speaking to Bahrain News Agency (BNA), Yavi expressed deep gratitude, and acknowledged that the encouragement from HM the King and the royal family played a pivotal role in her journey to winning gold and breaking the Olympic record.

She extended her heartfelt thanks to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, and His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of HM the King for Humanitarian Works and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports (SCYS), and His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the First Deputy Chairman of the SCYS, Chairman of the General Sports Authority (GSA), and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee.

Appreciation

She also expressed her appreciation for the Bahrain Olympic Committee and the Bahrain Athletics Association, whose unwavering support was instrumental in her success.

Yavi described her achievement as “an Olympic dream come true.” She broke the Games’ record with an astounding time of 8:43.25. This achievement surpasses the previous record of 8:58.81 set by Russia’s Gulnara Galkina in 2008. Her tears during the victory ceremony were a reflection of the overwhelming support she received throughout her journey.

Support

“A huge thanks to my coach and athletic team, my family, and of course, the fans.

Their support means the world to me,” she said. Reflecting on her preparations, Yavi attributed her historic victory to a blend of hard work, teamwork, and a positive mindset.

She shared that the biggest challenge during the race was avoiding getting boxed in by competitors, a hurdle she overcame by taking the lead and pushing towards the finish line.

Recalling the race’s final moments, Yavi described passing Ugandan Peruth Chemutai, who won silver with a national record time of 8:53.34, as “incredible.”

Srong finish

She said, “I knew I had a very strong finish, and my goal was to make a move, attack the barrier, and keep going until I saw the finish line.” Looking to the future, Yavi sent an empowering message to young athletes: “Believe it and everything is possible, as long as you keep moving.”

She also declared her intention to defend her title, stating, “I’ll keep doing my thing and come back to defend my title in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”