Athletics Kenya Bans Bunny Hopping in Youth Races Over Safety Concerns

Athletics Kenya (AK) banned the bunny hop technique in all national youth races (U-16 and below) on July 11, 2025—citing rising knee injury reports from biomechanics studies at Kenyatta University. The high-knee, exaggerated stride—popularized on TikTok—increased ACL strain by 38% in lab tests. Speed without sustainability is self-sabotage, said AK Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Kamau. The ban includes educational workshops for coaches and a Smooth Stride certification program. Parents initially protested, but 89% supported it after injury data was shared. World Athletics is reviewing the findings for global guidelines. AK also introduced mandatory gait analysis for national camp invites.