In Eldoret, Kenya, authorities have taken down statues of three athletes after they were mocked for looking poorly made and “embarrassing.”
The statues were put up to celebrate Eldoret becoming a city, but many locals and social media users felt they didn’t resemble the athletes they were meant to honor.
Eldoret, often called the “home of champions,” is known for producing some of Kenya’s top athletes. However, according to BBC News, people were upset by the statues, describing them as a “disgrace” and a “joke.”
The statues were removed overnight, just before President William Ruto officially declared Eldoret a city. BBC News reported that the statues were part of a series of artistic displays around the town, meant to highlight the area’s rich history in sports and agriculture.
However, the artworks quickly became the subject of ridicule instead of pride. BBC shared that some people believed one statue represented Faith Kipyegon, the 1,500m world-record holder, while another was thought to depict marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
Kenyan social media users were relieved when the statues were taken down. As reported by the BBC, local authorities have not confirmed who the statues were supposed to represent, and it remains unclear whether they will be replaced.
The statue removal happened as President Ruto honored Kenya’s Olympic athletes ahead of Eldoret’s city designation ceremony.
BBC noted that Kenya was the top-performing African country at the Paris Olympics, winning four gold medals, including one by Kipyegon.
Although Kipchoge had to withdraw from the marathon due to injury, the athletes were celebrated by the government for their achievements.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxd93w4y2o