'Keep looking forward' says Niyonsaba, barred from 800m
Isued on: 08/09/2021 -
Isued on: 08/09/2021 -
Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba was forced to move up to 5,000m due to controversial rules governing high testosterone levels
Jonathan NACKSTRAND AFP/File
Zurich (AFP
Unusually for an athlete in her mid-20s, Francine Niyonsaba has been forced to recalibrate from an outstanding multiple medal-winning 800m runner to adopting the 5,000m as her new event.
The Burundian won an Olympic silver medal at 800m in Rio in 2016 and also came second at the London world championships a year later, and is also a two-time world indoor champion.
But Niyonsaba, like South Africa's gold medal winner in Rio, Caster Semenya, saw her hopes of continuing in the two-lap discipline dashed in May 2019 after World Athletics introduced controversial rules governing testosterone levels.
Female athletes like Niyonsaba and Semenya who have unusually high levels of testosterone, which gives them added strength, are prohibited from competing in races between 400m and a mile unless they undergo treatment to reduce the levels.
It left them looking around at what other events they might qualify in for the Tokyo Games. While Semenya failed to make the qualifying time amid a court battle, Niyonsaba made the cut for the 5000m in only her second competitive run over the distance.
"It was a long journey. I was blessed to be in the Olympics," Niyonsaba said ahead of the two-day Diamond League finale in Zurich on Wednesday and Thursday.
In Tokyo, Niyonsaba was disqualified in the heats of the 5,000m, but finished fifth in the 10,000m.
"I had many changes. I'm glad I never gave up."
Now 28, she said: "Since I was born, I have not had an easy life and I love challenges and I face them with a lot of determination and perserverance.
"To transform 800m into long-distance, it's not easy. In the Olympics it was new challenges, new experiences, so I was happy."
- 'Not going back' -
Niyonsaba had relocated for training to Eugene, Oregon, as an athlete affiliated to the US sportswear giant Nike.
But her change in distance on the track saw her decide on a different course, swapping Eugene for the foothills of Kenya shortly after she was barred from her favoured 800m in May 2019.
"It was the right decision to move from America to Kenya because I knew Kenya is home of champions in long distance," she said.
"To meet many athletes there... Meeting Kipchoge in the morning, it gives you motivation!" she said, referring to the dominant marathon runner in the world, Eliud Kipchoge.
Kipchoge's Kenyan teammate Hellen Obiri, the two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist behind Sifan Hassan in Tokyo, will likely be Niyonsaba's main rival in Wednesday's race, run on an unorthodox 560-metre track on the shores of Lake Zurich.
"Every race is new for me. I think it's going to be a great race," the Burundi athlete said. "Running with Obiri is an honour."
Niyonsaba trumped Obiri when the two took to the track at last week's Diamond League meet in Brussels, just as Namibian teenager Christine Mboma triumphed in the 200m over Britain's reigning world champion Dina Asher-Smith.
Like Niyonsaba, Mboma has been barred from running her favoured 400m unless she takes the testosterone-reducing drugs.
The fact the pair beat current world champions after recent decisions to swap events out of necessity raised the contentious issue of whether regulations put in place by the sport's governing body to try to create a "level playing field" actually go far enough.
It is a delicate subject, but Niyonsaba was sanguine.
"I'm here and I'm doing well," she said. "I'm back because I want to make sports be in a better place and keep inspiring others.
"I will never go back, I'm going to keep looking forward.
"Today, every moment I enjoy to run. I'm going to keep training hard and perform well. I love to do my best."
© 2021 AFP
Zurich (AFP
Unusually for an athlete in her mid-20s, Francine Niyonsaba has been forced to recalibrate from an outstanding multiple medal-winning 800m runner to adopting the 5,000m as her new event.
The Burundian won an Olympic silver medal at 800m in Rio in 2016 and also came second at the London world championships a year later, and is also a two-time world indoor champion.
But Niyonsaba, like South Africa's gold medal winner in Rio, Caster Semenya, saw her hopes of continuing in the two-lap discipline dashed in May 2019 after World Athletics introduced controversial rules governing testosterone levels.
Female athletes like Niyonsaba and Semenya who have unusually high levels of testosterone, which gives them added strength, are prohibited from competing in races between 400m and a mile unless they undergo treatment to reduce the levels.
It left them looking around at what other events they might qualify in for the Tokyo Games. While Semenya failed to make the qualifying time amid a court battle, Niyonsaba made the cut for the 5000m in only her second competitive run over the distance.
"It was a long journey. I was blessed to be in the Olympics," Niyonsaba said ahead of the two-day Diamond League finale in Zurich on Wednesday and Thursday.
In Tokyo, Niyonsaba was disqualified in the heats of the 5,000m, but finished fifth in the 10,000m.
"I had many changes. I'm glad I never gave up."
Now 28, she said: "Since I was born, I have not had an easy life and I love challenges and I face them with a lot of determination and perserverance.
"To transform 800m into long-distance, it's not easy. In the Olympics it was new challenges, new experiences, so I was happy."
- 'Not going back' -
Niyonsaba had relocated for training to Eugene, Oregon, as an athlete affiliated to the US sportswear giant Nike.
But her change in distance on the track saw her decide on a different course, swapping Eugene for the foothills of Kenya shortly after she was barred from her favoured 800m in May 2019.
"It was the right decision to move from America to Kenya because I knew Kenya is home of champions in long distance," she said.
"To meet many athletes there... Meeting Kipchoge in the morning, it gives you motivation!" she said, referring to the dominant marathon runner in the world, Eliud Kipchoge.
Kipchoge's Kenyan teammate Hellen Obiri, the two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist behind Sifan Hassan in Tokyo, will likely be Niyonsaba's main rival in Wednesday's race, run on an unorthodox 560-metre track on the shores of Lake Zurich.
"Every race is new for me. I think it's going to be a great race," the Burundi athlete said. "Running with Obiri is an honour."
Niyonsaba trumped Obiri when the two took to the track at last week's Diamond League meet in Brussels, just as Namibian teenager Christine Mboma triumphed in the 200m over Britain's reigning world champion Dina Asher-Smith.
Like Niyonsaba, Mboma has been barred from running her favoured 400m unless she takes the testosterone-reducing drugs.
The fact the pair beat current world champions after recent decisions to swap events out of necessity raised the contentious issue of whether regulations put in place by the sport's governing body to try to create a "level playing field" actually go far enough.
It is a delicate subject, but Niyonsaba was sanguine.
"I'm here and I'm doing well," she said. "I'm back because I want to make sports be in a better place and keep inspiring others.
"I will never go back, I'm going to keep looking forward.
"Today, every moment I enjoy to run. I'm going to keep training hard and perform well. I love to do my best."
© 2021 AFP
Niyonsaba, Crouser shine in opening Diamond League finals
Issued on: 08/09/2021 -
Issued on: 08/09/2021 -
Burundi's Francine Niyonsaba Fabrice COFFRINI AFP
Zurich (AFP)
Francine Niyonsaba again trumped Hellen Obiri in the women's 5000m while two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser won the men's shot put on the first of two days of Diamond League finals in Zurich on Wednesday.
In hot, sunny conditions at the Sechselaeutenplatz square on the shores of Lake Zurich, Niyonsaba best negotiated an unorthodox 560-metre track to win in 14:28.98, 0.70sec ahead of two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Obiri.
Niyonsaba's victory saw her bag $30,000 in prize money to cap a tremendous season in which she switched to the 5,000m after being barred from running her favoured 800m.
The former Olympic and world 800m silver medallist, like South African Caster Semenya, has fallen foul of World Athletics regulations that prohibit athletes who have unusually high levels of testosterone from competing in races between 400m and a mile unless they undergo treatment to reduce the levels.
"I love challenges. I have a lot of resilience and determination," said the 28-year-old.
"I stayed behind most of the race, this was my tactic, I am still learning after switching from 800m to longer distances.
"I did what I had to do. We love to see the people around here, cheering for us. This race was amazing."
The Burundi runner left it late, taking the lead at the bell for the last lap ahead of her Kenyan rival and comfortably keeping her nerve through to the line.
"This race was like a championship," said Obiri. "It was a new experience, we did not know where we can start to kick and to accelerate.
"The race was hard for me, I tried to kick and did my best, but Francine is a former 800m runner. She had a stronger kick."
- Cowboy Crouser -
Crouser was introduced to the crowd of 2,500 basking in the early evening sunshine in his customary cowboy hat, but quickly shelved that to take an early lead.
Zurich (AFP)
Francine Niyonsaba again trumped Hellen Obiri in the women's 5000m while two-time Olympic champion Ryan Crouser won the men's shot put on the first of two days of Diamond League finals in Zurich on Wednesday.
In hot, sunny conditions at the Sechselaeutenplatz square on the shores of Lake Zurich, Niyonsaba best negotiated an unorthodox 560-metre track to win in 14:28.98, 0.70sec ahead of two-time world champion and Olympic silver medallist Obiri.
Niyonsaba's victory saw her bag $30,000 in prize money to cap a tremendous season in which she switched to the 5,000m after being barred from running her favoured 800m.
The former Olympic and world 800m silver medallist, like South African Caster Semenya, has fallen foul of World Athletics regulations that prohibit athletes who have unusually high levels of testosterone from competing in races between 400m and a mile unless they undergo treatment to reduce the levels.
"I love challenges. I have a lot of resilience and determination," said the 28-year-old.
"I stayed behind most of the race, this was my tactic, I am still learning after switching from 800m to longer distances.
"I did what I had to do. We love to see the people around here, cheering for us. This race was amazing."
The Burundi runner left it late, taking the lead at the bell for the last lap ahead of her Kenyan rival and comfortably keeping her nerve through to the line.
"This race was like a championship," said Obiri. "It was a new experience, we did not know where we can start to kick and to accelerate.
"The race was hard for me, I tried to kick and did my best, but Francine is a former 800m runner. She had a stronger kick."
- Cowboy Crouser -
Crouser was introduced to the crowd of 2,500 basking in the early evening sunshine in his customary cowboy hat, but quickly shelved that to take an early lead.
USA's Ryan Crouser Fabrice COFFRINI AFP
The 28-year-old, who set a world record of 23.37m in the pre-Tokyo US Olympic trials in June, managed a best of 22.67m on his third attempt.
Tokyo silver medallist Joe Kovacs finished second with 22.29m, with Serbia's Armin Sinancevic claiming third spot (21.86).
Crouser also beat by 7cm the meet record set in 2018 by Tokyo bronze medallist Tom Walsh, the New Zealander -- who sports "Space for rent" on the front of his all-black vest after losing sponsorship -- finishing fourth (21.61).
"This meeting record is a big one for me," said Crouser. "This is my first Diamond League victory. I am honoured to be here and come out with a victory.
"I love great events like this, you can see and feel the energy of the crowd. This is a perfect evening."
Crouser was joined on the winners' podium by teammate Maggie Ewen, who won the women's shot with a best of 19.41m, having failed to even make the Olympics.
Olympic champion Mariya Lasitskene of Russia won the women's high jump in a meet record of 2.05m.
The 28-year-old, who set a world record of 23.37m in the pre-Tokyo US Olympic trials in June, managed a best of 22.67m on his third attempt.
Tokyo silver medallist Joe Kovacs finished second with 22.29m, with Serbia's Armin Sinancevic claiming third spot (21.86).
Crouser also beat by 7cm the meet record set in 2018 by Tokyo bronze medallist Tom Walsh, the New Zealander -- who sports "Space for rent" on the front of his all-black vest after losing sponsorship -- finishing fourth (21.61).
"This meeting record is a big one for me," said Crouser. "This is my first Diamond League victory. I am honoured to be here and come out with a victory.
"I love great events like this, you can see and feel the energy of the crowd. This is a perfect evening."
Crouser was joined on the winners' podium by teammate Maggie Ewen, who won the women's shot with a best of 19.41m, having failed to even make the Olympics.
Olympic champion Mariya Lasitskene of Russia won the women's high jump in a meet record of 2.05m.
Russia's Mariya Lasitskene STEFAN WERMUTH AFP
"The venue here is difficult and fantastic at the same time - difficult because of the track and fantastic because of the spectators," said the three-time world gold medallist.
There was no such luck, however, for Germany's Malaika Mihambo, another Tokyo champion, who could only finish fifth in the women's long jump, which was won by Serbia's Ivana Spanovic in 6.96m.
Sweden's Thobias Montler won the men's long jump with a last-gasp 8.17m, while Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi topped the podium in the men's 5,000m in 12:58.65.
All 25 other Diamond League finals are scheduled for Thursday at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium, where more than 20,000 spectators traditionally create a raucous atmosphere.
© 2021 AFP
"The venue here is difficult and fantastic at the same time - difficult because of the track and fantastic because of the spectators," said the three-time world gold medallist.
There was no such luck, however, for Germany's Malaika Mihambo, another Tokyo champion, who could only finish fifth in the women's long jump, which was won by Serbia's Ivana Spanovic in 6.96m.
Sweden's Thobias Montler won the men's long jump with a last-gasp 8.17m, while Ethiopian Berihu Aregawi topped the podium in the men's 5,000m in 12:58.65.
All 25 other Diamond League finals are scheduled for Thursday at the iconic Letzigrund Stadium, where more than 20,000 spectators traditionally create a raucous atmosphere.
© 2021 AFP
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