As the 2024 Paris Games inch closer, track stars from both hemispheres of the world are eager to compete on the banks of the Seine River and showcase their worth in all its glory. Among them, former Kenyan national record holder and two-time Olympic silver medalist Hellen Obiri is expected to be the main threat to the USA’s hopes in the women’s 5000m race. The middle-distance runner also competed in the USA in April this year and won the Boston Marathon. Naturally, with her ability being well-known to the country’s track and field fans, Obiri could emerge as one of the best performers at the end of the 2024 Olympics.

Like most successful athletes, Obiri has been fortunate to be surrounded by people who have entrusted their faith in her stamina and grit. As the quadrennial event looms overhead, let’s take a look at the support pillars who have helped Hellen reach where she is.

Meet Hellen Obiri’s farmer parents

Hellen was born in Kisii, a small town in southwestern Kenya, and is the fourth child in her family. Her father, Mzee Isaac Obiri, was an avid connoisseur of athletics and wished to see some of his children develop an interest in the sport. While her native town didn’t have a legacy of nurturing world-class athletes, it was her farmer parents who provided her with the guidance, space, and time to navigate her way to a successful track career.

Even now, in the late stage of the 34-year-old’s career, Obiri believes a lot of her motivation to perform well comes from the thought of her parents watching her run.”When I know that my parents are watching, something comes into my mind, that I don’t want to let my parents down. Let me work extra hard to make them happy,” said Hellen in an interview to Maurten last month. Considering the extent they have gone to, only to ensure their daughter could realize her ambitions, it’s only natural for Obiri to want to give something back to her parents.

How Obiri’s parents encourage her athletic career despite their struggling financial condition

Once Hellen started showing potential to become a successful athlete, Mzee Isaac found inventive ways to test her. He would often send his daughter on family chores over long distances to see how she fared, and more often than not, he was impressed with how little time Hellen took to return after completing her tasks. Justifiably, Mzee also had to keep Hellen motivated with tokens of appreciation. He would buy her multiple pairs of rubber shoes, which she used for performances during the early days of her budding career.

Hellen’s father was also a loyal fan of her skills and has always been one of her most vehement cheerleaders. Mzee could often be spotted in the stands, cheering on his daughter at zonal and district athletics meets. His presence at her primary school events was so regular that he was often mistaken for one of the teachers, reported Obiri in an interview with Nation in 2020.

But will such support be enough for Hellen to finally bag the elusive gold medal on the biggest stage at the French capital? We’ll have to wait and see.