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Former Kenyan marathon champion Beatrice Murugi now survives by picking tea after an uninsured accident and chronic health issues stripped her of her earnings. Her fall from sporting glory into poverty highlights the lack of social protection for African athletes after retirement, urging authorities to do more.

Sunulife tells the heartbreaking story of Beatrice Murugi, a former Kenyan marathon runner whose life fell from sporting glory into extreme poverty. After using her success in Japan to financially support her family, the athlete lost everything following an uninsured transport accident and serious chronic health problems. Today, she survives by picking tea while raising her child in poverty, and her situation has sparked an outpouring of emotion on social media. Her story raises a critical question about the lack of social protection for African athletes once their sporting careers come to an end. Through Murugi’s personal journey, the story also serves as a call to sporting authorities to provide greater support and protection for the athletes who once brought pride and honor to their nations.

Beatrice Murugi: From Marathon Champion to Tea Picker