Her father was a 5000-metre runner, which likely influenced her early interest in the sport. She is also the cousin of Alice Timbilil, the 1999 World Youth champion in the 3000 metres. Her husband, Kenneth Cheruiyot, won the 2002 Rotterdam Marathon.

Injuries and Comebacks

She faced a light knee injury after the 2010 Commonwealth Games in India. Additionally, she did not make it to the 2009 World Championships in Berlin due to another injury. Despite these setbacks, she continued to push forward in her career.

Breaks and Returns

She took a break from athletics for two years to attend to her maternal duties. She returned fully to athletics in 2008. After the birth of her first son in 2002, she made a slow comeback in 2003 and returned to running in 2004.

Joining the Armed Forces

In 2006, she joined the Kenyan Armed Forces. Five months after giving birth to her second child, she returned to mandatory Armed Forces training. In 2008, following her Olympic success, she was promoted to Corporal.

Beijing Olympics Triumph

On the eve of her 27th birthday, she won a gold medal at the Beijing Olympics. She became the second Kenyan woman to win an Olympic gold. Upon returning to Kenya, she received $25,000 from the government and private corporations.

A celebration was held in honour of her and other Beijing Olympians by parliament members in the Rift Valley region. "All my fellow athletes and all Kenyans noticed that Kenyan women can also be good middle-distance runners," she said.

"I received special prizes from Athletics Kenya and was promoted to Corporal by the Armed Forces. Even now, I find it hard to believe I won gold in Beijing but it is an achievement that fills me with great reward," she added.

Future Plans

Looking ahead, she aims to continue inspiring young girls to take up athletics and believe in themselves. Her journey serves as a testament to resilience and dedication in sports.