Before the medals, the Olympic Games, and the national titles, she was just a shy little girl trying to find her place in the world. Running became her safe space. It helped her come out of her shell, make friends, and feel a sense of belonging she didn't always have. What started as a way to connect with others soon became a pathway that changed her life.
Growing up in a migrant family, Bendere navigated cultural expectations, language barriers and the pressure of trying to fit into two worlds at once. Sport became the place where she finally felt free - a space where she didn't have to explain herself, hide parts of herself, or pretend to be anything other than who she was. Running gave her identity, belonging and a voice she didn't always have the confidence to use.
Her journey as an athlete wasn't smooth or simple. One of her biggest turning moments came when she watched the 2016 Olympics as a teenager - dreaming quietly from her living room. Five years later, she made that dream real by becoming an Olympian herself in Tokyo. That moment showed her what is possible when talent meets belief, hard work and support. It also showed her how many young people never get the opportunities she fought so hard to find.
Today, Bendere's purpose goes far beyond running fast. She believes her legacy won't be her fast times on the track - it will be the lives she changes off it. The Oboya Foundation is her way of giving people the support she didn't have growing up.
Through her foundation, Bendere is creating more than programs - she's creating a movement. A movement for confidence, community, identity and possibility. A movement that shows young people that their futures can be bigger than anything they have imagined.
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