Kenyan athletics legend named 2016 UN Person of The Year

Dennis Tarus

October 26, 2016 10:42 AM

Former marathon and world record holder Tegla Loroupe is the winner of the 2016 UN Person of the Year award.

She was recognised for her efforts in getting refugees to participate in Olympic Games for the first time in history and her leadership in taking peace to conflict zones in Africa.

In 2015, Loroupe succeeded in lobbying the International Olympics Committee (IOC) to give a chance to refugees with athletics talent to participate in the Olympics.

The IOC accepted the request and as a result, ten refugees (five from Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya) took part at this year’s Rio Olympic Games.

Peace foundation

Under her Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, she has organised several peace races among tribal rivals, trying to resolve conflicts with conciliation instead of weapons.

In her acceptance speech, Loroupe challenged nations to work together in order to end conflict that contribute to killings and increase in refugees across the world.

TEGLA Loroupe Speech: WINNER 2016 UN Person of the Year Award

Loroupe is the first African woman to win the New York City marathon and a world record holder in several long distance competitions.

In 2014, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta named United Nations in Kenya Person of the Year.

She received the award for her efforts in the Beyond Zero campaign which aims at reducing maternal and child mortality in Kenya.

Dennis Tarus