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| Ruth Jebet after winning the Gold for the Womens 3000m Steeplechase for Bahrain |
Kenyans on social media expressed mixed reactions after Ruth Jebet won the gold medal for Bahrain in the 3,000m steeplechase on Monday
While some expressed their joy that Jebet maintained her title, others scolded Kenya's National Olympics committee for failing to sufficiently support for local athletes.
The committee was accused of paying athletes peanuts, which leads to their loss to countries offering more money.
A reaction from Lola Hoka read: “People go where they are appreciated. Kenyans running for Bahrain probably had had enough of mishandling of athletes by Olympics committee each time the games are on. More could follow if nothing is done. Money is a factor too but it's about time athletes were treated better here”.
Moris Mbogo on his Twitter handle expressed shock that Kenyan athletes get Sh1 million after an Olympic gold medal win while same Kenyan gets Sh52 million by running for Bahrain.
Ogoa Ondego said “As Ruth Jebet wins Olympic 3000m Steeplechase Gold medal in #Rio2016, the world should know Blood (Kenya) is thicker than water."
Some even went on to proposition Bahrain to 'return' Jebet.
“I got a Deal for Bahrain, How about trading back our One Ruth Jebet with 4 governors and 16MPs?” read a tweet from Lernie.
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| Jebet aslmost broke the World Record winning the race with a 30 meter gap ahead of the Silver and Bronze Medalists |
Shicks Davida said “Ruth Jebet congratulations to u. It Breaks Our Hearts to know our Girl Won Gold for Bahrain you remains Kenyan."
“Julius Yego was offered 1 billion bob to go to Bahrain to represent them in 2016-he refused and chose to be patriotic”.
Moses Nderitu said Kenyan athletes should not think twice when golden opportunities like Jebet’s come knocking.
Boniface Mwangi said: “Now let's listen to Ruth Jebet sing Bahrain national anthem”.
“Kenyan officials had no IDEA that Ruth Jebet had in fact changed allegiance. Woke up to find her in Bahrain Jersey two years ago,” read another tweet.
Although Jebet blew away the competition to win the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase on Monday, she narrowly missed out on the world record.
The 19-year-old took the lead after just a few laps and set a blistering pace, winning in eight minutes 59.75 seconds.
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| Jebet draped with the Bahrain flag and her first ever Gold Medal for the nation. |
She was milliseconds shy of the 8:58.81 world record set by Russia's Gulnara Samitova-Galkina at the 2008 Beijing Games.
Galkina and Jebet, who was the world junior champion, are the only two women to have run a sub-nine minute time.
Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi, who won the world title in Beijing last year, was almost 50 metres behind in second place.
American Emma Coburn won United States' first ever medal in Monday's steeplechase, as she grabbed bronze and a new national record.
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