Brigid Kosgei Launches Maternal Athlete Support Network After Comeback Victory

Two-time Chicago Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei made a triumphant return to elite running—and launched a vital initiative—on October 13, 2025, winning the Valencia Marathon (2:14:23) just 14 months postpartum. Immediately after, she unveiled the Mama Athlete Network (MAN), a KSh 95 million program offering prenatal coaching, lactation-safe training plans, childcare grants, and mental health support for elite and grassroots athletes. No woman should choose between motherhood and medals, Kosgei stated. Backed by Nike, UN Women, and AMREF, MAN’s pilot phase supports 200 athletes across Rift Valley. Athletics Kenya revised its selection policy to include postpartum comeback windows. World Athletics featured MAN in its 2026 Gender Equity Toolkit. Kosgei now targets Paris 2028— for my daughter, Zawadi.