According to Kenyan athlete Ngugi, winning is not everything, and athletes who cheat for quick results are driven by greed.
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Mary Ngugi, the long-distance runner from Kenya, has spoken out against athletes who cheat by using banned substances (doping). She stated that they (the athletes) are “greedy” and should realize that “money isn’t everything”. The Kenyan athlete, who finished in ninth place at this year’s Boston Marathon, has experienced both emotional and financial hardship as a result of an athlete using drugs. In 2021, Ngugi initially finished third in the Boston Marathon before being promoted to second place after the winner, Diana Kipyokei, was retrospectively disqualified and banned for six years for using banned substances.
According to Kenyan athlete Ngugi, winning is not everything, and athletes who cheat for quick results are driven by greed. She believes that the problem is aggravated by the belief that money is everything, which has been taught to many athletes. Ngugi contends that athletes must think about their future careers, even when they retire, and the impact of their actions on their reputation. “What will you tell your children?” Ngugi asks. “I would rather be third, fourth, fifth, but I know this is me. I didn’t cheat or steal from anyone. They’re being greedy.”
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Kenyan athletics is now working to restore its shattered reputation due to doping. In 2021, the country nearly avoided being barred from international competition. Ngugi believes that athletes must be honest and respectful of their profession because it is more than simply a job. Cheating is detrimental to both the athlete and the opposition. She urges drug cheats to consider their actions more thoroughly and to refuse drug offers when they are made.
Ngugi’s greatest performance at the Boston Marathon occurred in 2021 when she finished third. She claimed that this year’s ninth-place showing was insignificant in comparison. The winners of the marathon receive a $150,000 cash reward, although the prize money decreases significantly after the first-place finisher. The second-place finisher receives $75,000, while the third and fourth-place each receive $40,000 and $25,000, respectively. Evans Chebet of Kenya won the men’s race at this year’s Boston Marathon, while Hellen Obiri took the women’s title. Eliud Kipchoge, who is regarded as the greatest marathoner of all time, competed in the race for the first time and finished sixth in the marathon.
Kenyan athlete Mary Ngugi raced the half marathon in 66:29 minutes, the 10K in 30:50 minutes, and the marathon in 2:27:36. She won the bronze medal in the 5000 meters for junior athletes at the 2006 World Junior Athletics Championships and was the 2007 African junior champion. At the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics, she made her debut in the 5000-meter race. She won the bronze medal in a competitive field that included Florence Kiplagat and Bai Xue, two future world champions. She gave birth to a daughter in 2010 with her late husband, marathon Olympic champion Samuel Wanjiru.
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