Catherine Ndereba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Catherine Ndereba

Ndereba at the 2005 Helsinki Marathon
Personal information
Birth name	Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba
Born	(1972-07-21) 21 July 1972 (age 53) Nyeri, Kenya
Height	1.60 m
Weight	45 kg
Sport
Country	Kenya
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Marathon
Retired	2008
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	2:18:47 (Chicago 2001)
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Kenya Olympic Games Silver 2004 Athens Marathon Silver 2008 Beijing Marathon World Championships Gold 2003 Paris Marathon Gold 2007 Osaka Marathon Silver 2005 Helsinki Marathon World Marathon Majors Gold 2000 Boston Marathon Gold 2000 Chicago Marathon Gold 2001 Boston Marathon Gold 2001 Chicago Marathon Gold 2004 Boston Marathon Gold 2005 Boston Marathon Silver 1999 New York City Marathon Silver 2002 Boston Marathon Silver 2002 Chicago Marathon Silver 2003 London Marathon Silver 2003 New York City Marathon Bronze 2006 New York City Marathon

Catherine Nyambura Ndereba (born on July 21, 1972) is a famous retired Kenyan marathon runner. She is known for her amazing success in long-distance running. Many people call her "Catherine the Great" because of her achievements.

Between 2003 and 2008, Catherine was one of the top two runners in five big world championship marathons. She won gold medals twice at the World Championships in Athletics. She also earned silver medals at the Summer Olympic Games in 2004 and 2008. This made her the first Kenyan woman to win multiple Olympic medals in athletics.

Catherine also won the Boston Marathon four times. She won the Chicago Marathon twice. In 2001, at the Chicago Marathon, she even set a new world record for women. Her time was 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 47 seconds. She retired in 2012, after being called the greatest women's marathoner ever by the Chicago Tribune.

Catherine's Running Journey

Catherine Ndereba grew up in Gatunganga, a place in Nyeri District, Kenya. She went to Ngorano Secondary School. There, she started to focus on her running.

Joining the Kenya Prisons Service

In 1994, the Kenya Prisons Service invited Catherine to join their athletics program. This was a big step in her career. She continued to train and compete.

Awards and Recognition

Catherine's hard work paid off. She won the Kenyan Sportswoman of the Year award in both 2004 and 2005. In 2005, the President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki, gave her a special award called the Order of the Golden Warrior.

Later Career and Retirement

In 2009, Catherine finished seventh at the London Marathon. This race was special because it was her 21st marathon where she ran under 2 hours and 30 minutes. This tied a record set by another great runner, Katrin Dorre. Later that year, she came third at the Yokohama Women's Marathon.

Catherine decided to retire quietly in 2012. She had problems with her right ankle. Doctors said surgery might help, but she wanted to recover naturally. She compared her body to a car that needed too many repairs. She retired as one of the best women marathoners of all time.

Family Life

Catherine Ndereba lives in Nairobi with her husband, Anthony Maina, and their daughter, Jane. Running talent runs in her family! Her brother, Samuel, and sister, Anastasia, are also marathon runners.

Major Achievements

Catherine Ndereba competing in the marathon at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.

Catherine Ndereba had many impressive achievements throughout her career:

• 1995: She first represented Kenya in an international relay race in Seoul, Korea.
• 1996: She was ranked No. 2 in the world for road running. Runner's World magazine named her Road Runner of the Year. Running Times called her Road Racer of the Year.
• 1997: Catherine took a break from racing. She gave birth to her daughter, Jane.
• 1998: She was again named Road Runner of the Year by Runner's World. She also earned Road Racer of the Year from Running Times.
  • She won a bronze medal individually and a team gold medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Palermo, Italy.
  • She ran the fastest times in the world for several distances that year.
  • She ran her first marathon at the Boston Marathon, finishing sixth.
  • She finished second at the New York City Marathon.
• 2000:
  • She won the Boston Marathon.
  • She won the Chicago Marathon.
  • The Association of International Marathons and Distance Races named her AIMS World Athlete of the Year.
• 2001:
  • She won the City-Pier-City Loop half marathon.
  • She won the Boston Marathon again.
  • She won the Chicago Marathon and set a new world record time.
• 2002: She finished second at both the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.
• 2003:
  • She won a gold medal in the marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics.
  • She won the Sapporo half-marathon.
  • She finished second at both the New York City Marathon and the London Marathon.
• 2004:
  • She won a silver medal in the marathon at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.
  • She won the Boston Marathon for the third time.
• 2005:
  • She won the Boston Marathon for the fourth time, becoming the first woman to do so.
  • She won a silver medal at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics.
• 2006:
  • She won the Osaka International Ladies Marathon.
  • She won the Bogota Half Marathon.
  • She finished third at the New York City Marathon.
• 2007:
  • She won a gold medal at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics.
  • She finished fifth at the New York City Marathon.
• 2008:
  • She won a silver medal in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
  • She finished fifth at the New York City Marathon.
• 2009: She finished sixth at the London Marathon.
• 2011: She finished third at the Beijing International Marathon.

See also

In Spanish: Catherine Ndereba para niños