Lilian Odira praises female coaches as Kenya targets gender gap

World 800m champion Lilian Odira has expressed her preference for working with female coaches, citing the unique understanding they provide. The athlete, who secured gold at last year's World Championships and a recent Commonwealth silver medal, currently trains under veteran coach Jacinta Muraguri.

Odira noted that being coached by a woman allows her to discuss personal matters that she might withhold from male tacticians. She explained that Muraguri understands her experiences as both an athlete and a mother. This connection helps Odira communicate the specific challenges she faces in her sporting career.

This sentiment aligns with a broader push by Athletics Kenya to address gender imbalances in coaching. The World Athletics Gender Leadership Strategy aims for a minimum of 40 per cent female representation among CECS Level 1 coaches by 2029. Muraguri believes reaching this target will encourage more women to enter the profession and improve the performance of female competitors.

Odira observed that Kenyan women are currently winning more medals than their male counterparts, which she believes proves the effectiveness of female leadership in the sport. She argued that the old perception regarding the capabilities of female coaches has been replaced by evidence of their excellent work.

Athletics Kenya is actively working toward these goals. Last October, 44 women from different regions participated in a CECS Level 1 course provided by the African Athletics Development Centre. Susan Kamau, the chief administrative officer for Athletics Kenya, encouraged women to pursue technical, coaching, and administration courses regardless of cultural expectations.

Experienced figures such as Milcah Chemos, Rose Tata Muia, and Janeth Jepkosgei are currently involved in training the next generation of Kenyan talent. Their involvement supports the country's efforts to close the gender gap in the athletics community.