The 2025 World Championships women’s 800m gold medalist, Lilian Odira, has credited her stellar performance in Tokyo, Japan, to good nutrition habits.

In a local TV interview on Monday, September 29, 2025, the 26-year-old said that for an athlete to maintain top-level performances, one has to observe a strict diet plan and caution. She also said it is very difficult for an athlete to entrust anyone with what they take in the wake of anti-doping regulations.

”As an athlete, you must be disciplined regarding what you take. It is always upon athletes to take care of themselves because there are so many regulations governing us to ensure we are not caught in doping violations,” Odira said.

Hailing from Migori County in the larger Nyanza region, famous for producing the country’s top footballers and boxers, Odira denied the stereotype linked to her original birthplace and athletics, saying sports excellence is not associated with places but individual determination, this is after her name at the World Championships caught many by surprise.

”It is a narrative that people are trying to pull out, but what I know is that everything is possible to anybody; it does not depend on where you come from or where you were born. Sports and athletics are a matter of training, consistency and discipline. I started my career in primary school, where I could run for fun before I moved to secondary school, where I did long races. I thank God for the supportive parents; my father has been with me throughout,” she added.

Lillian Odira’s profile

Odira’s star in athletics started to shine in 2024 when she became a national 800 metres champion before retaining her title in 2025. She was also a semi-finalist at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, as well as the 2025 World Indoor Championships.

Lilian Odira also set a new personal best in the 800 metres at the 2025 Diamond League with a run of 1:56.52 to finish runner-up to Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson.

She was subsequently named in the Kenyan team for the 800 metres at the 2025 World Championships, which she won in a World Championship Record time of 1:54.62. Her achievement in Tokyo became the 7th fastest 800m time ever run by a woman.