Kenyan athletes walked to honor Agnes Tirop on the eve of her funeral

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Agnes Tirop was brutally murdered just before her 26th birthday. Over 1000 mourners were seen at her funeral. In this piece, Justin Lagat relates to us his story on the walk to her home village, the night before the funeral.

Heartfelt, sad, and frustrating. Like most of the other countries in the world, gender based murders, also called domestic violence by some, is an epidemic. That Agnes Tirop was taken at the prime of her life perhaps makes it sadder.

Agnes Tirop, World record holder, 10k, photo courtesy of adidas communications

In a show of great love they had for her, and the bitterness they had for what just happened, Eldoret town and the shopping centers along the road that led from the town to Agnes Tirop’s village came to a standstill as a huge number of athletes escorted the body home.

People lined the roads to watch the procession and to pay their tributes as well to the heroine who had carried the Kenyan flag high in major athletic championships in the world.

Let’s end gender based violence, Kenyan athletes walk to pass the message as they pay their last respects to the late Agnes Tirop. pic.twitter.com/TY93X5nBwG

— Justin LagatðŸ‡°ðŸ‡ª (@LagatJustin) October 22, 2021

The athletes carried a huge banner that read: “End gender based violence.” It had Tirop’s pictures on it and additional words at the bottom of it written: “forever in our hearts.” Julius Yego would comment later in his speech about one picture in the banner that it appeared as though Tirop was waving goodbye as she held a shoe with her women’s only 10K world record of 30:01 written on it.

Some athletes talked bitterly about the loss of Tirop and Edith Muthoni, and that it should be the last ones that will ever happen to any female athlete in the future. Violah Lagat took the microphone and asked all the males in the meeting to swear a couple of times.

“I will never hit a woman in my life,” the men repeated after Lagat.

Mary Keitany and Janeth Jepkosgei urged the female runners to speak out whenever they witness any gender based violence amongst them, and that they will be reaching out to more of the former female athletes and forming some forums to talk about it and to help those who may require help.

Priscah Jeptoo said she was looking forward to seeing Tirop running in the marathon as she was sure her body was meant for the event but is so saddened by the sudden death.

Conseslus Kipruto comes from the same village with Tirop, and she says they had always been traveling with her to the major athletic events out of the country and encouraging each other and talking about their home village.

Among other athletes who spoke included Amos Kipruto who comes from the same management with Tirop but trains in Kapsabet, Margaret Kipkemboi who knew Tirop in their early days in school, Joan Melly, Faith Kipyegon, and others.

The funeral was conducted on the 23rd of October 2021; a day that would have been Agnes Tirop’s birthday.

“@LagatJustin: Joshua Cheptegei, Hellen Obiri, Violah Lagat and Janeth Jepkosggei were among athletes who spoke during Agnes Tirop’s funeral. pic.twitter.com/COVYL6jNtv“

— AthleticsAfrica (@athleticsafrica) October 24, 2021

Story on CNN website: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/agnes-tirop-olympic-runner-killed-in-a-knife-attack-buried-in-her-home-village/ar-AAPTsTy

Elliott Denman

One of the finest and most prolific writers in our sport, Elliott Denman has written about our sport since 1956, when he represented the US in 1956 Olympic Games at the 50k race walk, the longest event on the Olympic schedule. A close observer of the sport, Elliott writes about all of our sport, combining the skills of a well honed writer with the style of ee Cummings. We are quite fortunate to have Elliott Denman as a friend and advisor.

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