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Austrian Women's Award Winner 2006:
Tegla Loroupe
Kenya's female long distance runner
number 1
In 2006 the Austrian Women's Run Award was given
to one of the fastest women in the world: Tegla Loroupe
from Kenya, seven-time world champion and marathon world
record holder between 1998 and 2001.
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On June 11, 2006 she took part in the 5k elite
run in the beautiful green Vienna Prater as well.
Tegla Loroupe - the most successful female runner from
Kenya
Tegla Loroupe grew up as one of 25 siblings. At the age of
7 she started to run 10 km to school and 10 back, every day.
She took part in several school competitions, but her potential
was not discovered by the Kenyan Athletics Association until
she was 15. She ran her first marathon in 1994 in New York
and won at the first go - as the very first female African
ever. Nobody from her family supported her except her mother.
Tegla Loroupe became a shining example for many girls from
her home country, so today numerous female world-class runners
are from Kenya. Tegla Loroupe's list of success is long: She
won nearly all important marathons in the world. Her most
successful years were 1998 and 1999, when she set a new marathon
world record two times in a row (Rotterdam 2:20:47 h, Berlin
2:20:43 h). At present she is world record holder at 20.000
m, 25.000 m, 30.000 m, and one hour run.
A great fighter in the social field too
Not only because of her remarkable achievements in sports
33-year-old Tegla Loroupe is an extraordinary woman. With
the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, she initiates peace projects,
fights against poverty and aids and supports education programmes
with sports as a unifying factor, for example by organising
"peace races" in Africa. Besides she is ambassador
of the Special Olympics and member of the "People for
Children" association. She received many awards for her
social activities, among others the Georg-von-Opel-Prize "The
Silent Winners" and the title "Eve Woman Of The
Year" 2006.
Austrian Women's Run Award 2006 to Tegla Loroupe
With the Austrian Women's Run Award Tegla Loroupe has been
honoured on June 11 for her amazing achievements in sports
and especially for her outstanding social commitment.
Tegla Loroupe - Biography
| 1973 |
Tegla Loroupe is born
on May 9, 1973 in Kapsait, Kenya, as one of 25 siblings |
| 1980 |
At the age of 7 she starts running: every
day barefooted 10 km to school and 10 km back |
| 1988 |
After a cross-country victory Tegla Loroupe's
talent is discovered by the Kenyan Athletics Association.
She is nominated for the Junior World Championships and
ranks 28 straightaway - her success story begins. |
| 1994 |
In New York she runs her first important
marathon and wins as the very first African woman ever. |
| 1995 |
She wins the New York City Marathon for
the second time in a row. |
| 1998 |
Rotterdam Marathon: She wins with a new
world record of 2:20:47 h |
| 1999 |
Berlin Marathon: With 2:20:43 h she sets
a new world record again. She receives the "Abebe
Bikila Award" of the New York Road Runners for her
worldwide contribution to the running sport. |
| 2000 |
She wins the marathons in London and Rome.
Olympic Games in Sydney: Despite a food poisoning Tegla
Loroupe manages to finish the 10.000 m competition ranking
5 and the marathon ranking 13 |
| 2002 |
Winner of the Lausanne Marathon |
| 2003 |
For her activities with the "Tegla
Loroupe Peace Foundation" she receives the Georg-von-Opel-Prize
"The Silent Winners" in the category "sportsmen
in social responsibility" |
| 2004 |
Winner of the Leipzig Marathon |
| 2005 |
At the Athletics World Championships in
Helsinki Tegla Loroupe and her marathon team win the gold
medal |
| 2006 |
At the Rotterdam Marathon she finishes in
5th place (2:33:24 h). As "Eve Woman of the Year"
she es honoured for her social commitment in Kenya. Moreover
she is speaker at the UN general assembly. |
More information about Tegla Loroupe and her
peace foundation:
www.tegla-loroupe.de
www.teglaloroupepeacefoundation.org
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