Tegla Loroupe

Kenyan long-distance runner turned peace activist, using sports to resolve conflicts in East Africa.

Tegla Loroupe (b. 1973), the first African woman to win the New York Marathon, transformed from athlete to peacemaker. Through her Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, she organizes cross-cultural races involving warriors from conflicted tribes like the Pokot and Turkana. These events have disarmed over 10,000 participants since 2003.

As a UN Ambassador, Loroupe advocates for refugee rights and educates girls in rural Kenya. Her Olympic Refugee Team leadership in 2016 highlighted displaced athletes' resilience. Discover her impact in the Guardian profile or her autobiography Running for Peace.