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Young athletes' prayer magnets for Kenya and inspiration for all ages

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Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech (right) and Bahrain's Winfred Mutile Yavi compete during Women's 3000m Steeplechase Final at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 in Budapest, Hungary on Aug 27, 2023. [Xinhua]

I choke every time a Kenyan athlete - often a youngster - mounts the podium for the medal presentation ceremony in an international event. In recognition of their achievement, the national anthem reverberates across the world.

For those few minutes, the world - in a bubble of electric athletic emotion - joins in Kenya's national hymn. For their athletic prowess, these young people more frequently than anyone else, assemble the world to pray with Kenya.

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