Fight for survival in Kenya: Marathon as a beacon of hope for a better future

Kenya is world-renowned for its female long-distance runners. Yet behind the medals, records and international fame lies a reality that is rarely discussed: poverty, dependency and violence.

‘NZZ Format’ follows marathon runner Daizy Jemutai Rutto, who comes from an extremely poor background and trains in Iten, the famous ‘Home of Champions’. For her, running is not just a passion, but a survival strategy – the only chance to give her daughter a future and secure a life of dignity for her family.

In parallel, the documentary follows Joan Chelimo, an internationally successful athlete and co-founder of Tirop’s Angels. Following the murder of her friend Agnes Tirop, she breaks the silence surrounding gender-based violence in Kenyan running and fights for the protection and self-determination of female athletes.

Set against the backdrop of daily training in Kenya and the international marathon in Venice, the film portrays female athletes who must survive within a system that celebrates them whilst simultaneously letting them down.

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