Brigid Kosgei: Kenyan Marathoner Reveals When Turkey Tabled Big-Money Offer to Switch Nationalities

Kenyan marathon runner Brigid Kosgei has opened up over her surprise decision to ditch Kenya for Turkey ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics Games.

Kosgei is among five Kenyan athletes who were reported on Wednesday to have accepted a big-money offer from Turkey to switch nationalities ahead of the Olympics.

The 31-year-old, a former world marathon record holder, revealed that Turkey first made the approach in 2024 and talks have been ongoing since then before everything was formalised last year.

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"Yes, it's true, I changed my nationality to Turkish," Kosgei told AFP. "It was my decision, and I'm happy to compete under the Turkish flag in Los Angeles once the allegiance process is complete," she further stated.

The former London, Chicago, Madrid, and Tokyo marathon champion also confirmed that compatriot Ronald Kwemoi, the Olympic 5000m silver medallist, is among the five Kenyan athletes who have accepted to switch allegiance to Turkey.

Other Kenyans switching to Turkey are Catherine Amanang’ole, the reigning ADNOC Abu Dhabi Marathon champion, Brian Kibor as well as Nelvin Jepkemboi.

Turkey has been on a poaching spree as they position themselves ahead of the LA 2028 Olympics and as per multiple reports, they have offered life-changing incentives, including a $500,000 (Ksh64.5 million) signing bonus and substantial monthly stipends, to secure their talents for the Games.

Olympic discus champion Rojé Stona from Jamaica, Olympic shot put medalists Rajindra Campbell also from the Caribbean nation, as well as Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili are among big names who changed nationalities to Turkey last year.

"It is a personal decision and these runners have chosen and have been accepted by Turkey. It's a free world provided they follow the regulations," Athletics Kenya Executive Committee member Barnaba Korir told AFP.

"We have very many runners in Kenya and we cannot accommodate all of them. Those who seek opportunities to compete for other countries are welcome. After all, they will compete for them and still invest in the country [Kenya].”

Kosgei’s departure is a blow to Kenya as she has been one of the outstanding marathoners in the country, having held the world marathon record of 2:14:04, set in Chicago, between October 2019 and September 2023.

She has won the Chicago Marathon twice, same as in London, conquered the Tokyo Marathon once and won silver at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics for Kenya before missing the Paris 2024 Games through injury, having pulled out at the last minute despite making the team.

According to the Olympic Charter, an athlete has to wait for three years after competing for one country before switching to another. Having not run for Kenya in Paris 2024, Kosgei is in line to fly the Turkish flag in Los Angeles in 2028.