Catherine Ndereba facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Catherine Ndereba

Ndereba at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics
Personal information
Birth name	Wincatherine Nyambura Ndereba
Born	(1972-07-21) 21 July 1972 (age 52) 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 21 July 1972) is a famous retired Kenyan marathon runner. She is known for her amazing success in long-distance running. Between 2003 and 2008, she often finished in the top two at major world championships.

Catherine won the marathon at the World Championships in Athletics two times. 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. She won the Boston Marathon four times and the Chicago Marathon twice. In 2001, she even set a new world record for women at the Chicago Marathon, finishing in 2 hours, 18 minutes, and 47 seconds. Many people consider her one of the greatest women's marathoners ever.

Catherine's Running Journey

Catherine Ndereba grew up in Gatunganga in Nyeri District, Kenya. She went to Ngorano Secondary School, where she started her running career. In 1994, she joined an athletics program with the Kenya Prisons Service.

Catherine was recognized for her talent. 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.

Catherine, often called "Catherine the Great," lives in Nairobi with her husband, Anthony Maina, and their daughter, Jane. Her brother, Samuel, and sister, Anastasia, are also marathon runners.

Key Achievements

Ndereba competing in the 2005 World Championships marathon.

Catherine Ndereba has achieved many great things in her running career:

• 1995
  • She first represented Kenya in an international relay race in Seoul, Korea.
• 1996
  • She was ranked among the top road runners in the world.
• 1997
  • She took a break from racing and gave birth to her daughter, Jane.
• 1998
  • She was again named a top road runner.
  • She won a bronze medal individually and a team gold medal at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Palermo, Italy.
  • She ran some of the fastest times in the world for shorter distances.
  • 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.
  • She was named the World Athlete of the Year by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races.
• 2001
  • She won the City-Pier-City Loop (a half marathon).
  • She won the Boston Marathon again.
  • She won the Chicago Marathon and set a new world record time for women.
• 2002
  • She finished second at both the Boston Marathon and the Chicago Marathon.
• 2003
  • She won a gold medal in the marathon at the World Championships.
  • 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 World Championships.
• 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 World Championships.
• 2008
  • She won a silver medal in the marathon at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
• 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