Olympic champion Winfred Yavi has reacted to losing the 3000m steeplechase race at the Diamond League Meeting final in Brussels.
The Kenyan-born Bahraini pointed out that she was going for the world record but a poor execution of the race cost her a win and the record. She was motivated from the Diamond League Meeting in Rome where she threatened Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record but in Brussels, she did not enjoy a great run.
Faith Cherotich outpaced Olympic champion Winfred Yavi in a thrilling race to claim the Diamond League steeplechase title.
In Rome, Yavi missed the world record by seven-hundredths of a second as she clocked 8:44.39, the second fastest time in history. The 24-year-old clocked 8:44.32 to win the race at the 2018 Diamond League Meeting in Monaco.
In Brussels, Yavi clocked 9:02.87 to finish second in the race as Faith Cherotich won the race in 9:02.36. Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and former Olympic champion rounded up the podium, clocking 9:07.60 to finish the race.
“The race in Rome gave me a lot of motivation for today. I was aiming for the world record but with the circumstances and how the race turned out, it was not possible. It was too cold to take a shot at the world record. However, I really enjoyed this race,” Yavi said.
The reigning world 3000m steeplechase champion started her season late, finishing ninth at the Prefontaine Classic before winning the Diamond League Meeting in Paris ahead of the Olympics.
At the Olympics, she was in a class of her own as she claimed top honours in the race. After the race, Yavi only raced at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome where she won the race. She now shifts focus to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan where she intends to defend her title.
The Ugandan steeplechase star has expressed her desire to break Beatrice Chepkoech's world record, joining Winfred Yavi in the chase.