This archive report was first published on 29 August 2021.
Published on August 29, 2021, in Tokyo, Japan, the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games witnessed a heartwarming display of sibling love as silver medalist Nancy Chelangat credited her elder brother Geoffrey Kiplangat for her success.
As the guide for Chelangat, Kiplangat played a crucial role in helping her younger sister qualify for Monday's 1500m-T11 women's Final after finishing fourth in a season-best time of 4:51.68.
Chelangat, a silver medalist from the Rio 2016 Games in the same event, attributed her performance to the high humidity conditions at the Olympic Stadium, which affected her in the final lap.
"I started very well; I finished the first two laps well but now heading for the final lap the humidity affected me but I am thankful that I was able to run good time to qualify as one of the fastest losers. I am now going to work on my finishing power to fight for a medal in the final," Chelangat said.
Another Kenyan athlete, Mary Waithera, missed the qualification to the final with a whisker after finishing third in the opening Heat, despite clocking her Personal Best time of 4:52.54.
"I was hoping to make it in the final as one of the fastest losers but then that did not happen. I was well prepared for today's race and the weather conditions were super, the humidity was lower compared to the rest of the days," Waithera said.
Chelangat's brother, Kiplangat, explained how he encouraged his sister into running and how it gives her an advantage to have him as her guide.
"I used to be a champion during my days in Secondary School, but I sacrificed that career to help my younger sister and ensure she succeeds because she is talented. I have guided other athletes before like Erick Sang who is going to compete here in the men's category, then I taught my sister and to me that is very special," Kiplangat said.
