Olympian, Groundbreaking Marathoner & Peace Builder
Useless
“You’re useless,” shouted Tegla’s father. That was his name for her, Useless. “You don’t need school. You’re only good for babysitting.”
Throughout nearly all of Tegla Chepkite Loroupe’s early life, people ignored her, treated her like a servant, and tried to make her feel worthless. But she knew she could run—run her life, run for recognition, run for peace and freedom, and run to help others. She ran to the highest global sports achievements and used her achievements for good will, activism, and peace building in her own country of Kenya and the world.
Creating Her Own Running Path
Tegla was born in the small, poor village of Kapsait in the Lelan division of West Pokot District, Kenya, near the border of Uganda. Kapsait is in the Rift Valley about 370 miles north of Nairobi. In Pokot society, most men have more than one wife. Tegla’s father had four wives. Tegla spent her childhood tending cattle, working the fields, and caring for her 24 brothers and sisters.
This story is from the April 2018 edition of Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
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This story is from the April 2018 edition of Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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