“When I saw that positive pregnancy test, it was basically the highlight of my year. Looking at the place I am emotionally and mentally, I am very happy. I don’t think I’ve ever been happier.” – Aliphine Tuliamuk

This is a short and special episode of the podcast regarding the big news that U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials champion Aliphine Tuliamuk is pregnant with her first child. A baby girl is expected in late January. She made her announcement on Sunday afternoon in an Instagram post. I published a story for Sports Illustrated about how she came to this decision but also dives into her family history since she is one of 32 siblings. Now, she’s starting her own. The story includes some insight from Northern Arizona Elite head coach Ben Rosario on her possible road back + HOKA One One’s sports marketing manager Mike McManus on how Aliphine won’t face any reductions or have to rush back to action. Aliphine just re-signed for the next four years. She is going to have plenty of time to get ready for the Olympics and this just became one of the inspirational stories to follow ahead of Tokyo.

Apologies for the audio quality. Initially didn’t intend to release this as a podcast. I recorded it off of my iPhone speaker for the Sports Illustrated story. After sharing the story with my coach, she mentioned to me just how much of a “bright light” Aliphine is for the sport so I decided it would be best if you heard from her!

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: One of 32 Siblings, Aliphine Tuliamuk Prepares to Start Her Own Family

Follow Aliphine on Instagram: @Aliphine

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SHOW NOTES & QUOTES

– When Tuliamuk learned she was having a daughter a part of her felt a sense of relief for her child’s future. Like many Americans in 2020, Tuliamuk watched and read about the harsh realities and life experiences that Black boys and men face at the hands of police officers in the United States. The fear of a Black son one day being unjustly perceived as a threat and becoming a hashtag is real.

In June, Tuliamuk shared an Instagram post expressing her disappointment in how much NBC Sports’ broadcast overlooked her even in the late stages of the race when she was the clear leader. She wrote: “I wondered if the reason was that I was a Black woman, or that I am a Kenyan-American, (so not American enough?)”

Even in 2020, running still deals with its share of flak from those who discredit the accomplishments of naturalized American citizens who were born in East Africa.

“I think I’m more aware of my race now than I ever have been,” Tuliamuk says. “Santa Fe and Flagstaff can be pretty diverse but I often think if I was running in a different city and in a certain neighborhood, would people look at me and think that I was there to steal or do something bad. I had been shielded for a long time but these last few months changed me a lot.”

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