The athletics community is in shock after the recent deaths of three Kenyan athletes, prompting Julius Yego to call attention to the mental health crisis affecting athletes and urge people to offer emotional and psychological support.
The world of athletics has been thrown into a state of shock following the recent deaths of three Kenyan athletes.
The issue has caught the attention of the whole world with former world javelin champion Julius Yego making his remarks. The Kenyan javelin star shared a post on his Facebook page, expressing his shock.
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Julius Yego pointed out that the deaths are a crisis and noted that athletes seem to be going through a lot of things, some of which they cannot speak about openly. He urged Kenyans to check up on the athletes and help where they can.
“Seem a lot is happening in silence amongst our athletes! Something is not right! So sad 😭 and heartbreaking! 💔 let’s be checking on that neighbour give emotional support, mental support, psychological support and whatever support you can, let’s not wait for them to die, the current state of humanity is facing a serious mental health crisis!” Julius Yego posted.
Former marathoner Samson Kandie was the first athlete to be announced dead in the past week after he was killed by unknown people at his home in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
As reported by The Star, Uasin Gishu police commander Benjamin Mwanthi disclosed that the late Kandie was hacked to death within his compound at the high-end Elgon View Estate.
“He was attacked by people who appear to have been waiting for him at the home and we are investigating the incident,” Mwanthi said.
Meanwhile, Kipyegon Bett lost his life at the Tenwek Hospital after an illness but further reports claim that some of his body organs failed due to alcohol abuse after mental health struggles following his doping suspension.
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"When Kipyegon was banned, he started drinking a lot, wouldn’t eat well, and suffered depression," his sister Purity Kirui told BBC Sport.
"We tried to help him stop drinking, but whenever we wanted to take him to rehab, he would disappear from home for days."
On his part, Clement Kemboi’s lifeless body was found hanging on a rope off a tree at St. Patrick High School’s farm.