Who is Mary Moraa? All about the Kenyan athlete who broke the 600m world record set by Caster Semenya at ISATF Berlin

Mary Moraa, a track and field athlete from Kenya, shattered the 600m world record at the ISATF (Internationales Stadionfest), which took place in the Olympiastadion in Berlin. She marked her return after her Olympic exploits in Paris and clocked 1:21.63 in the 600m, bettering the seven-year long-standing world record set by South African athlete, Caster Semenya.

Mary Moraa competed at the National trials and placed second in the 800m, earning a qualification for Paris. At the 2024 Games, she finished on the bronze podium by clocking 1:57.42 behind first and second finishers, Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain and Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia. Her Olympic success came after being ousted in the 800m semi-finals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

At the 2023 World Championships National Trials, the 24-year-old clocked 50.38s in the 400m to set the National record. In the World finals in Budapest, she clinched the 800m gold.

Mary Moraa's family and hometown

Moraa was born in Obwari, Nyanza Province, Kenya to Tom Basweti and Margaret Otwori. She lost her parents when she was two and shifted to staying with her grandparents. She thanked her grandmother and grandfather for raising her and her siblings.

"It was hard for me and my siblings, but we got somebody who took us in, looked after us, provided and mentored us." (via African News)

She is the cousin of middle-distance runner, Sarah Moraa. She is engaged to athlete Richard Lagat, who proposed to her at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport after her 2023 World Championships gold-winning feat.

When did Moraa start running?

The 24-year-old started running in primary school and as she reached high school, the Kenyan came under the influence of three-time Olympic medalist Hellen Obiri, who exposed her to professional athletics.

The six-kilometer commute from home to school was difficult but it acted as a perfect training ground for the Olympian.

Other achievements of Mary Moraa

Moraa at the World Athletics Championships. Budapest 2023. (Source: Getty)

Moraa won the 800m bronze at the 2022 World Championships, clocking a personal best time of 1:56.71 behind American middle-distance runner, Athing Mu. She followed up with her stellar rub at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, winning gold ahead of Keely Hodgkinson.

The same year, she also added the 800m Diamond League win to her repertoire. Moraa amassed the 400m gold and mixed 4x400m relay bronze at the 2023 African Championships, also known as Accra 2023. The Olympian also won the 400m gold at the 2019 U20 Championships and silver at the 2017 World Youth Championships in Nairobi.