Hellen Obiri

Early life and background Hellen Onsando Obiri was born on 13 December 1989 in Kisii, Kenya.

She is married to Tom Nyaundi, a former runner, and they have a daughter, Tania 'Blessing' Macheche, born in May 2015 through caesarean section. Obiri resumed racing within seven months.

Career Obiri gained her first international experience at the 2011 Military World Games in Rio de Janeiro, where she won the bronze medal for the 800 metres and placed fourth in the 1500 metres. She debuted in the World Championships in Athletics held in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea the following month, competing at the latter distance. Obiri set a personal best time of 4:07.59 in the heats but fell in the final, bringing pre-event favourite Morgan Uceny down with her, and finished 10th. She later said, "After Daegu I went back to Kenya and started training seriously."

On 1 June 2013, Obiri won her first Diamond League race with 1500 m victory in Eugene, setting a new personal best and meet record of 3:58.58.

Obiri dominated the 5000 m at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London. Obiri represented Kenya at the 2017 World Championships in London in the same event and won the gold medal with a time of 14:34.86, ahead of Ayana and Sifan Hassan.

2018 saw her take two more gold medals in the 5000 m events, at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and at the African Championships. After she posted best female times of the year in the 5000 metres in 2017 and 2018, Obiri successfully defended her title at the Doha World Championships in October, setting a championship record of 14:26.72 in the process. Her compatriot Margaret Kipkemboi (14:27.49) and Konstanze Klosterhalfen (14:28.43) finished second and third, respectively.

Obiri represented Kenya at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in both the women's 5000 m and 10,000 m events. She won the silver medal at the former in a time of 14:38.36, finishing behind only Hassan who ran 14:36.79; Gudaf Tsegay took bronze in 14:38.87. Obiri placed fourth in the 10,000 m final in a personal best behind, 1–3, Hassan, Kalkidan Gezahegne and Letesenbet Gidey.

At the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Obiri came second in the 10,000 m. She was beaten to gold by Gidey in a close finish (the top 3 were only separated by 0.13 s).

She capped her fine 2022 season (64:22 at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February; wins at Istanbul Half Marathon, Great Manchester Run and Great North Run) in November debuting in the marathon at the New York City Marathon, where she placed sixth.

Obiri got her 2023 campaign off to strong start. In February, she won the RAK Half and then the New York City Half Marathon in March. On 17 April, the 33-year-old ran her second marathon, competing in the Boston Marathon against the deepest elite women's field ever assembled. She won with a personal best time of 2:21:38, 12 seconds clear of second-place finisher Amane Beriso who had by far the fastest personal best heading into the race (2:14:58). Obiri went on to win the 2023 New York City Marathon in a time of 2:25:49.

Obiri won the 2026 New York City Half Marathon in a course record time of 1:06:33.

Achievements Obiri claimed her first global title with win in the 3000 m at the 2012 World Indoor Championships held in Istanbul. Vivian Cheruiyot (R) and Hellen Obiri (L), 1–2 in the 5000 m, celebrate their success at the 2016 Olympics. Obiri (R) en route to the 5000 m victory at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha.

International competitions

Circuit wins and titles

2013 (1): Eugene Prefontaine Classic (1500m, ) 2014 (2): Doha Diamond League (3000m), Eugene (1500m, MR) 2016 (2): Eugene (5000m, PB), Monaco Herculis (3000m) 2017 (5): Shanghai Diamond League (5000m, WL PB), Rome Golden Gala (5000m, WL ), London Grand Prix (Mile, MR NR), Monaco (3000m, WL), Brussels Memorial Van Damme (5000m) 2018 (2): Rabat Meeting International (5000m), Weltklasse Zürich (5000m) 2019 (2): Doha (3000m, WL), London (5000m, WL MR) 2020 (2): Monaco (5000m, WL MR), Doha (3000m, WL) 2021 (1): Oslo Bislett Games (5000m)

National titles Kenyan Athletics Championships 1500 metres: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 5000 metres: 2018 Kenyan Cross Country Championships Senior women's race: 2019

Personal bests