Mary Moraa

thumb|Moraa in 2023 Mary Moraa (born 15 June 2000) is a Kenyan athlete who specialises in the 800 metres. Quotes Athletics has uplifted me, from a nobody to now a somebody, from the poorest of all. If I stayed in the village in Kisii, western Kenya, I wouldn’t be known, but my talent has made me known. Yes, athletics has changed my story, my life greatly. It is hard to explain. Athletics is painful, it is not easy. You have to put in a lot of effort to be successful, you have to endure and learn, you have to focus on your target. I woke up at 5am, I am still here. I am happy. It is a big achievement for me, for my family and for my country. Coach, we had too much pressure this season. I am thinking how we started the season, on a low with the indoor tour, but we are ending it with a gold medal. I am satisfied with the performance. I did not expect it, I had so much pressure, There was a lot of tension and questions on whether I could win the 800m because we did not start the season well, but our peak target was the World Championships. I had told my coach, whichever medal I will win – bronze, silver or gold – I will be thankful. In the call room, the cameras were all over my face. When I moved, the camera moved with me. I was tense. I asked myself: ‘why can’t they just focus on Athing Mu? She is the reigning world and Olympic champion. Ah, are the cameras following me because they think I can be a champion, too? The cameras are on me because I am also a champion. I remember my dad, there are photos of him. I don’t remember my mum, I have never seen a photo of my mum, Sometimes I ask myself, what if mum was alive to watch me compete? The money I am making now; I wish she was alive and we could celebrate together. This is usually a very hard time for me. There are times I sit down and cry. And cry some more. It is still tough for me. When Mary told me about her background, I was: ‘wow, I don’t know how to handle her’. I had to be both a coach and a father figure. I give her advice and handle her like my daughter. What happened, affects her. It really touches me. It was a tough life. When she wins, she has a lot to tell the community that despite the background she grew up in, she has a life to live. I asked myself, ‘what life is this that we have left with?’ But I had to remain focused. I was lucky to get a school principal who treated me like his daughter, took me in, introduced me to sports. You don’t have to stay down when you are left with nothing and no one. That is my sister, It was prayer day in her school. I have taken care of her since she joined primary school. When our parents died, she was six months old. We console each other all the time. She was always crying, asking who our mum was. Whatever small money I got from school competitions, maybe three dollars or less, I would pay school fees for my sister. We had the most difficult life growing up without parents. Without anything. However, when I look back, I am thankful how far God has brought us. I am able now to take care of her and others properly. People say my mum was an athlete but I have never seen a video of her running or even photos of her, I thought, I have to also pick athletics so that people can talk about me – refer to me as my mum’s child. I had to follow in her footsteps. When I saw her (Obiri) physically, I decided there and then, she will be my mentor. It was my first time; I didn’t have shoes when I came for the championships, 2017 is when I became known, and I assured myself: ‘I will not let go of athletics.’ My principal supported me through high school until I finished, then he handed me over to the coach. When Obiri gave me shoes and other running facilities, I told myself I would not disappoint her. I followed in her footsteps. I reminded myself, I may not have everything else, but I have the talent. Now I am somewhere. I am a somebody, A lady called me and said she has named her daughter Mary Moraa, after me. I was surprised, I was confused. I am inspiring people back home in my community, who now want their children to take up athletics. I know right now, some upcoming athletes are asking themselves what they need to do to be like Mary Moraa. You have to be at your best, for people admire you and what you do, for people to pick up athletics. I cried for not winning a medal for Kenya, I was sharing a room with Beatrice Chepkoech, she won gold. Obiri won gold, too. They were the two people close to me. I had nothing. I was in tears. Beatrice and Obiri advised me to switch to 800m. I listened. Football is 90 minutes, a lot of time. It was hard for me. But athletics is two very tough minutes and I am over with it. During school competition, I would be asked to play football after finishing my athletics. This is also work. You cannot run forever, you have to have options, something else which motivates you. There is no shortcut with sport. You have to wake up for training. Athletics is the farm you cultivate, Sport requires discipline and proper training. You have to listen to your coach, seek advice from experienced athletes and stay focused. Without discipline, you cannot achieve anything. Then you must rest, otherwise you will not survive. Athletics has taught me to love other athletes. You have to care about each other and be happy for those who win. We encourage and advise each other. Look at Yavi. She is in great shape. I started to dance last year at the Commonwealth Games, I had lost hope because I was too tired to compete, coming from the World Championships. My mind was racing and I got this energy from nowhere and went all out. When I crossed the line, I still had the running energy, and I found myself dancing. When I went for the Diamond League Final last year, I heard spectators say: “We need your dance.” It clicked again. Now it is part of my winning celebration, it is part of entertaining spectators who come to the stadium to watch and support us. They give us the morale. Anything is possible if you trust in God, stay focused on your talent and seek help if you see someone who can help you advance your career, even though sometimes it is difficult. If you can compete during primary and secondary school competitions, it is a way of showcasing your talent. Someone will spot you. So don’t lose hope, you must have a target. Faith Kipyegon and I challenged the President to ensure Kenya has good stadiums; stadiums that will make World Athletics consider Kenya,We can host the Diamond League, then the World Athletics Championships. It will be our joy to host over 200 countries in Kenya, it will market Kenya more. Moraa – the Kisii Express – and a journey to the top of the world, WORLD ATHLETICS, October 05 2023 External links Category:Track and field athletes Category:Sportspeople from Kenya Category:2000 births Category:Women in sports Category:Women from Kenya Category:Women born in the 2000s