Kenyan runner shares her fight against stigma and illness on way to Commonwealth Games

Kenyan runner Naomi Korir faced tough challenges growing up with a medical issue and having three surgeries. Her journey led her to the final of the mile at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Korir was born with a congenital fistula. This condition caused continuous urine leakage because of an unusual opening between her bladder and vagina. It made it hard for her to join in athletics, even though she loved sports.

As BBC Sport reported on Friday, Korir said, "I played most of the sports activities: football, netball, athletics, even rugby. But it was difficult because of the training, and the urine is flowing continuously."

She started by switching to shorter races and took part in the 100m hurdles. Despite her challenges and the feelings of loneliness because of her condition, she kept competing in sports.

Korir had two surgeries that did not fix the problem. In August 2013, when she was 13, she had a third surgery at Gynocare Hospital in Eldoret. This operation finally gave her relief and allowed her to pursue athletics without facing the same issues.

Caroline Mabeya, the director at Gynocare, explained that women with fistula often deal with stigma and isolation, in addition to the health effects of the condition.

"They are ostracised in society. That’s the psychological torture that they face with the fistula," Mabeya said.

After her successful treatment, Korir continued to grow as a middle-distance runner. Her strong will led her to the Commonwealth Games, where she finished fifth in the mile final.

For Korir, competing in the Commonwealth Games was a huge change from her childhood years when her medical issue almost took away her dream of being a runner.