Mary Moraa is a Kenyan World and Commonwealth Championships medalist in the 800 metres category. She won bronze in the 800 metres at the recently concluded World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Moraa followed up the IAAF World Championships bronze medal with a gold medal in the ongoing Commonwealth games in Birmingham, England, UK.
She adds to a list of emerging Kenyan athletes that are taking over the country’s sporting scene. Here’s her story as told by WoK.
Background
Moraa was born on June 15, 2000.
Career
Mary graced the world stage at the 2019 World Athletics Championships where she competed in the mixed 4 × 400 metres relay event. That same year, she also competed in the women’s 4 × 400 metres relay at the 2019 African Games held in Rabat, Morocco.
In June 2021, Moraa qualified to represent Kenya at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
In July 2022, Moraa won the bronze medal in the 800m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
She won gold in the 800m at the 2022 Commonwealth Games after storming through to beat World Silver medalist from Eugene, Keely Hodgkinson. Moraa won the race with a finishing time of 1:57:07.
“I am just happy…I just lack the words to express my joy,” she said while treating the fans to a victory dance.
Following her victory, Kenya recaptured a title it had relinquished in 2018 Gold Coast to South Africa’s Caster Semenya.
Moraa is a 1x World U18 Championships Silver medallist, 1x African U20 champion, 2x Diamond League meeting winner, and 1x National champion.
In June 2021, she finished in first place at the Sollentuna GP, Sollentunavallen, Sollentuna in Sweden. In July the same year, she finished in first place competing in the 1000 metres race in KBC Nacht van de Atletiek, Stadion De Veen, Heusden-Zolder in Belgium.
On June 9, 2022, Moraa finished in 4th place at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea held at Stadio Olimpico in Roma, Italy. She also finished in first place at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme de Rabat at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, Morocco.
On July 30, 2022, she won the BAUHAUS-Galan at the Olympiastadion in Stockholm, Sweden.
