Winfred Mutile Yavi: From Ukia's Red Soil to Global Champion.

By Fabian Mwiti. 

Winfred Mutile Yavi, the Kenyan-born Bahraini steeplechaser, has become one of the most dominant figures in women’s athletics today. Yet behind her global success lies a story deeply rooted in the hills of Ukia, Makueni County, where she was born in 1999.

Yavi grew up in a humble home, raised by parents who still live in Makueni. Athletics was part of her life from an early age, and she often took part in local school competitions. But with Kenya’s track scene overflowing with talent, breaking through the national ranks was a steep climb. Despite her ability, she was unable to secure selection for major junior championships while competing under the Kenyan flag.

At just 15 years old, Yavi made the life-changing decision to switch allegiance to Bahrain, a country that has often recruited Kenyan talent for its athletics program. She became eligible to represent Bahrain internationally in August 2016, opening the door to opportunities that had been elusive in her homeland.

Since then, her rise has been remarkable. She is an Olympic champion (Paris 2024), a World champion (Budapest 2023), a World Championships silver medalist (Doha 2019), and a consistent Diamond League finalist. To have achieved all this at just 24 years old places her among the finest athletes of her generation

Her decision to run for Bahrain drew mixed reactions, some saw it as a betrayal, others as the bold choice of a young athlete determined to reach her full potential. What cannot be denied is that Bahrain gave her the platform she craved, and she has repaid that faith with medals and historic performances.

Yet despite wearing Bahrain’s colors, Yavi has never cut her ties with Kenya. After her Olympic triumph, she returned to Makueni for an emotional reunion with her parents, who welcomed her home with pride. Videos of her visit showed the raw emotions of a daughter who had conquered the world but still found her roots firmly in the red soil of Ukia.