U.S. runner Weini Kelati's Olympic journey from Eritrea to Paris is a lifelong dream in the making
Before Weini Kelati was running 10,000 meters to a finish line, she was running long distances to school in Eritrea.
Before Weini Kelati was running 10,000 meters to a finish line, she was running long distances to school in Eritrea.
Born in Tsada Christian, a small village in the central region of Eritrea, Kelati, 27, said it wasn't unusual for kids to walk four to five hours to get to school every day — or to run, if they were tardy.
Running would eventually take her far beyond the African country to Oregon, where her journey to become an American Olympian started 10 years ago and where that dream was cemented last month with a first-place finish at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Stream every moment and every medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics on Peacock, starting with the Opening Ceremony July 26 at 12 p.m. ET.
Kelati’s father died when she was young, and she watched her mother struggle to raise her family. She knew she wanted to help her, but the "how" didn't become clear until middle school.
Rating: 5