Kenya’s Marathon Star Brigid Kosgei Switches Allegiance to Turkey
Sports Updated: 23 January 2026 12:34 EAT
Brigit Kosgei who is now committed to serving Turkey after ditching Kenya
Kenya’s former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei has confirmed she will switch her sporting allegiance to Turkey, paving the way for her to compete under the Turkish flag at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The 31-year-old, who held the women’s marathon world record of 2:14:04 set at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, described the decision as a personal one, saying she is “happy to represent Turkey once the process is complete.”
Kosgei is an Olympic silver medallist, having finished second in the marathon at the Tokyo 2020 Games, and has won multiple major marathons including London, Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo.
The process of obtaining Turkish citizenship began in 2024 and will ensure her eligibility for the LA 2028 Games, in accordance with International Olympic Committee rules requiring a three-year waiting period after competing for one country.
She joins a growing list of Kenyan athletes who have switched allegiances, with reports indicating that Turkey plans to include other Kenyan distance runners in its squad for the next Olympics.
The Turkish Athletics Federation previously published, then deleted, a list showing Kosgei and several other Kenyan athletes as part of its Olympic team strategy.
Kosgei said the move is motivated by her desire to continue competing at the highest level and to prepare fully for the challenges of LA 2028.
Her departure marks a significant shift in elite distance running, highlighting the growing trend of top Kenyan athletes representing other nations in international competition.
Fans and athletics observers have expressed mixed reactions, with some celebrating her career achievements and others noting the impact of such transfers on Kenya’s long-standing dominance in marathon racing.
Tags: Athletics Kenya Signsmedia Signstvkenya Sports Journalism Signs Media Kenya Limited Editor's Pick
Share this article
FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD