Tekla Chemabwai
Encyclopedia
Tekla Chemabwai is retired sprinter and middle-distance runner from Kenya
.
Chemabwai competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics
, but did not advance past 400 metres heats. Aged 18, she was the youngest member of the Kenyan Olympic squad. Alongside Lydia Stephens-Oketch and Elizabeth Chesire she was the first Kenyan woman athlete compete at the Olympics.
She competed again at the 1972 Summer Olympics
, reaching quarterfinals (2nd round).
She won 400 metres race at the 1973 All-Africa games
, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win All-Africa Games
gold medal in athletics.
Chemabwai won silver at the 1978 Commonwealth Games 800 metres race. It was only the second Commonwealth Games medal won by Kenyan women athlete, the first one was by Sabina Chebichi, who finished third at the 1974 Commonwealth Games 800 metres race.
At the 1978 All-Africa games
she won the 800 metres race
She also won number of East and Central African championships over 200 and 400 metres
Chemabwai was married to the now deceased runner Julius Sang
. She believes that being a wife of another runner, she was able to have a long career, unlike many other Kenyan female runners whose careers are cut short by family life. As of 2002, she was a university athletics coach. Her forename is sometimes spelled Tecla.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
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Chemabwai competed at the 1968 Summer Olympics
1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XIX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Mexico City, Mexico in October 1968. The 1968 Games were the first Olympic Games hosted by a developing country, and the first Games hosted by a Spanish-speaking country...
, but did not advance past 400 metres heats. Aged 18, she was the youngest member of the Kenyan Olympic squad. Alongside Lydia Stephens-Oketch and Elizabeth Chesire she was the first Kenyan woman athlete compete at the Olympics.
She competed again at the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, reaching quarterfinals (2nd round).
She won 400 metres race at the 1973 All-Africa games
Athletics at the 1973 All-Africa Games
The second All-Africa Games were held in Lagos, Nigeria in January 1973.Ten new events were added, three for the men, 10,000 metres, marathon and hammer throw and seven for the women, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres, 1500 metres, shot put, discus throw and 4 x 400 metres relay...
, becoming the first Kenyan woman to win All-Africa Games
All-Africa Games
The All-Africa Games, sometimes called the African Games or the Pan African Games, are a regional multi-sport event held every four years, organized by the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa...
gold medal in athletics.
Chemabwai won silver at the 1978 Commonwealth Games 800 metres race. It was only the second Commonwealth Games medal won by Kenyan women athlete, the first one was by Sabina Chebichi, who finished third at the 1974 Commonwealth Games 800 metres race.
At the 1978 All-Africa games
Athletics at the 1978 All-Africa Games
The third All-Africa Games were held in July 1978 in Algiers, Algeria.New events were added to the athletics program; Decathlon and pentathlon, for men and women respectively, as well as men's 20 km road walk...
she won the 800 metres race
She also won number of East and Central African championships over 200 and 400 metres
Chemabwai was married to the now deceased runner Julius Sang
Julius Sang
Julius Sang was a Kenyan runner. Along with teammates Robert Ouko, Charles Asati and Munyoro Nyamau he won the 4 x 400 relay race at the 1972 Summer Olympics for Kenya...
. She believes that being a wife of another runner, she was able to have a long career, unlike many other Kenyan female runners whose careers are cut short by family life. As of 2002, she was a university athletics coach. Her forename is sometimes spelled Tecla.