Sebina Chebichi is a famous runner from Kenya who made a name for herself in the world of marathons. She was born in the 1940s in Rift Valley in Kenya. She lived in the countryside and learned to run as a way to get around and to help her family.
In the early 1970s, she started running in races. At that time, not many women in Kenya were into sports. Most of the races were filled with men. But Sebina wanted to do well, so she trained a lot even though it was tough.
In 1973, Sebina did something amazing. She won a big marathon in Kenya, making her the first woman from Kenya to do this. What makes this even more special is that she ran the race without any shoes and was wearing a petticoat because she didn't have the right clothes for running.
Her win inspired other women in Kenya to get into sports. She kept doing well in other races. In 1974, she won a bronze medal in the marathon at the Commonwealth Games, another first for Kenyan women.
Thanks to Sebina, many women in Kenya have become successful runners. Kenyan women are now some of the best long-distance runners in the world. Sebina's story continues to inspire young athletes.
But Sebina's journey wasn't easy. She didn't get much support from the people in charge of sports in Kenya. She stopped running in races in the late 1970s, but she had already paved the way for other women to follow her lead.