Lydia Stephens

Lydia Stephens’ made two major appearances during her brief international athletic career. She was not selected for the inaugural All-Africa Games in 1965, despite, in the trials, placing ahead of the woman who was eventually sent, a fact that Stephens’ attributes to the white control of sport in the country (as a white runner was sent instead). Thus her first appearance came at the 1966 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, where she was fifth in the 100 yards. The other was the 1968 Summer Olympics, where she was injured in the heats of the 100 metres and did not complete the race. Nonetheless, this made her one of the first three Kenyan women to compete at the Games, alongside Tekla Chemabwai and Elizabeth Chesire. Facing sexism both within sport and at the broader cultural level, however, she quit track and field athletics shortly thereafter. Domestically she was more successful, winning several national titles and holding records in the 100 and 220 yards. She attended University College Nairobi, which is now the University of Nairobi.

Personal Best: 100 – 11.8 (1968).