[ad_1]
Kenyans jeered and mocked a statue depicting Olympic star Faith Kipigon in the world-famous running hub of Eldoret on Thursday as the country cheered on its own Olympic champion.
According to media reports, the statue of the amateur female athlete wearing a top with a Kenyan flag was hastily removed after residents complained, but not before photos of the statue went viral online.
Social media users widely described the statue of Kipigon as a “disgrace” and a “joke” to Kenya’s track and field queen, with some mocking it as a “disgrace” and a “joke” while others called for the sculptor to be arrested or prosecuted.
Kipiyegun made history at the Paris Olympics, becoming the first woman to win three consecutive Olympic 1500m gold medals and setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3 minutes 51.29 seconds.
The 30-year-old also won silver in the 5,000m event after being disqualified for allegedly shoving Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay.
It is one of several Olympic athletics statues erected in Eldoret, with another said to be of marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, whose hopes of a historic third consecutive gold medal in Paris were dashed about 30 kilometres into the race.
Kenya’s returning Olympians were given a hero’s welcome in Eldoret, which President William Ruto will declare a city later on Thursday.
[ad_2]
Source link
