Bahrain’s reigning world champion Winfred Yavi in high spirits

TDT | Manama                                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s reigning world champion Winfred Yavi is in high spirits as she enters this Olympic year.

Following a sensational 2023 in which she won multiple major accolades in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase -- including her maiden world title, an Asian Games gold medal, her first-ever Diamond League crown and the year’s world leading time – the 24-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on New Year’s Eve, now has her sights set on glory at the Paris Olympics.

She took to social media to share her aspirations for 2024, and she called on her supporters to rally behind her.

“As the new year dawns, I am elated by the journey ahead to the Olympics, a path that we tread together as #TeamYavi,” Winfred wrote.

“Your support is my strength, and our collective hopes and dreams propel us forward.

“This New Year, let’s embrace the spirit of unity and compassion that guides us through every challenge.

Team Yavi, your belief is the wind beneath my wings.

“Happy New Year, and here’s to a year where every step counts and every heart is heard.

Keep moving.” Hopeful Winfred is one of Bahrain’s leading hopefuls for a medal at this year’s Olympic Games.

At the previous Olympiad in Tokyo in 2021, she could not meet her goals, but is determined to do so this time around.

Winfred is also eyeing the steeplechase world record.

She attempted to attack it last year, and she came close, setting a blistering mark of eight minutes 50.66 seconds to set a new Asian and Bahraini record, en route to claiming her Diamond Trophy.

It was also the second-fastest time in history, as she inched closer to Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech’s world mark of 8:44.32 set in 2018.

Aside from her steeplechase gold medal at the Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, she secured a fantastic double after also winning gold in the women’s 1,500m.

Winfred also set a new Asiad record in the steeplechase of 9:18.28 en route to her victory.

She shattered the previous mark of 9:31.36, set by another former world champion of Bahrain, Ruth Jebet, in the 2014 edition in Incheon, South Korea.

Furthermore, Winfred successfully defended her steeplechase title from the 2018 Asiad in Jakarta, Indonesia, and captured the third Asian Games gold medal of her illustrious career.

Winfred continues to train ahead of this year’s athletics season, which will lead up to the Paris Olympics, scheduled to take place in July and August.