By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, August 20: The Tibetan women athlete, Choeyang Kyi, failed to repeat her 2012 London Olympic podium finish after coming fifth in the women’s 20km walk yesterday at Rio Olympics in Brazil.
The ace walker came fifth with a timing of 1:29:04 despite leading the race at the midway point. China’s Lui Hong and Lü Xiuzhi won Gold and Bronze respectively and María Guadalupe González came second to win the Silver.
Choeyang Kyi who bagged the bronze medal at the London 2012 Olympics was later given the silver medal after the Russian Olga Kaniskina was disqualified following a failed drug test.
The 26-year old hail from Tsochang in the eastern Tibetan region of Amdo and is one of the two Tibetan athletes representing China at Rio. Marathon runner, Topgye is scheduled to run tomorrow at the Men’s Marathon Final, which will be the last event of the Rio Olympics.
Competing at his first Olympics, the coach of the 22-year old track athlete credits the special Tibetan diet of yak meat, tsampa and traditional Tibetan butter tea.
