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US Olympic champion Gabby Thomas eager to make Nairobi return for 2029 World Championships
16th September, 2026 03:36 PM
US Olympic champion Gabby Thomas had already developed a strong connection with Nairobi before the Kenyan capital was officially selected to host the 2029 World Athletics Championships.
Thomas, a three-time Olympic and world champion, has previously expressed her affection for Nairobi and publicly backed the idea of the Kenyan capital staging a major global athletics championship.
“Being in Nairobi for my first time there, I loved the city, I loved the competition, I loved the stadium. I ran really well there, I would like to go back.” She said on Tuesday, September 15, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
Her support comes as Kenya pushed its bid to bring the World Athletics Championships to Africa for the first time.
The dream was confirmed on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when World Athletics announced that Nairobi had been selected to host the 2029 edition, making Kenya the first African country to stage the senior championships.
Thomas has been among the international stars who have competed in Nairobi, strengthening the relationship between global athletes and the Kenyan capital. In April 2026, she returned to compete at the Kip Keino Classic, where she won both the 100m and 200m.
She clocked 11.01 in the 100m before producing a world-leading 21.89 to win the 200m.
Her appearance was part of a star-studded Kip Keino Classic field that also included Olympic champions Camryn Rogers, Ethan Katzberg and Kenya’s Emmanuel Wanyonyi.
Thomas’ enthusiasm for Nairobi therefore came against the backdrop of a city that has steadily built its reputation as an international athletics destination.
The Kenyan capital hosted the 2017 World U18 Championships and the 2021 World U20 Championships, while the Kip Keino Classic has become one of Africa’s leading one-day athletics meetings since joining the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold in 2020.
World Athletics said Nairobi’s successful bid was supported by its experience in hosting major international competitions, strong financial and operational plans and the ongoing renovation of Kasarani Stadium.
The venue is undergoing a major structural overhaul and is expected to host events linked to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations before becoming a key venue for the 2029 World Championships.
The decision also represents a significant milestone for African athletics. World Athletics President Sebastian Coe described Nairobi’s bid as “compelling and emotional”, noting that Kenya’s deep connection with athletics played an important role in the decision.
Kenya’s status as one of the world’s leading athletics nations was another factor highlighted by World Athletics. The country finished second on the medal table at the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, collecting seven gold medals and 11 medals overall.
With Nairobi now officially confirmed as the 2029 host, Thomas’ earlier public support takes on added significance.
The championships will give athletes from across Africa the opportunity to compete for world titles on home soil while bringing the global athletics community to a country where the sport has a deeply established following.
For Thomas, who has already experienced the atmosphere of competing in Nairobi, the 2029 championships could offer another opportunity to return to a city she has publicly shown affection for.
The 2029 World Championships will follow the 2027 edition in Beijing, with Nairobi becoming the first African host of the senior global championships.
