Hellen Obiri and Sinta Vissa: The Heart to Race

Words by Laura Markwardt. Photography by: Colin Wong and Sammy Smart

Watch the short documentary of Hellen Obiri and Sinta Vissa’s story, The Heart to Race, above. The film is part of the Dream Together series. Discover the other stories, and more at on.com/dream-together.

Back in mid-2022, On placed mural-style billboards around New York. An early introduction to an elite runner on a path to legendary status, “Don’t know Hellen Obiri? You will,” they promised. By the end of 2023, Obiri had made history, taking two World Marathon Major wins at Boston [2:21:38] and New York  [2:27:23].  

Fast-forward to April 2024: Obiri raced Boston again. This time, she wasn't there as a new name, but as a favorite – pushing the pace to retain her crown, “I’m the champion. I want to defend my title,” she said. Obiri broke away from her last, lone challenger at the final mile and sealed a World Majors hat-trick, with a time of 2:22:37.

“Defending the title was not easy… I had to work extra hard,” she told the post-race press conference. Hard work, synonymous with the ‘train, recover, repeat’ routine of a record-breaking athlete, is a consistent theme in Obiri’s career. On her goals for this summer 2024? Obiri doesn’t hesitate, “I want to win,” she says.

Sinta Vissa, Obiri’s friend, training partner and On Athletics Club (OAC) teammate, visualizes herself reaching her athletic goals through the eyes of Obiri mid-race, “...like someone you want to become. Seeing yourself winning a race. Just be confident and patient and then, make a move and just kick it. And don’t look back.”

Vissa recognizes that, “everyone has a backstory.” And yet, harnessing past adversity as fuel – and staying driven to keep winning, even at the top of your game – keeps both athletes firmly facing forward.

The cost of that high-level competition is often invisible to outsiders.

In spring 2022, the same year those New York billboards announced her name, Obiri made the move from Kenya to Boulder – alongside her husband, Tom Nyaundi and their young daughter, Tania. Today, she continues to train under Head Coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, with the OAC.

“It’s never easy…to forfeit family sometimes,” Obiri says of the time she spends on “the practice, the drills.” Holding her loved ones close gives Obiri the freedom to go all-in on her athletic dreams. In turn, the supportive power of her team and family is as critical to Obiri’s success as any training plan. “[they]... support me psychologically to get the strength I need for future victory,” she says.

Obiri talks of her family as a reason to run, and of her running as a way to show her daughter that mastery can be achieved through hard work, “I needed to run for Tania,” says Obiri, “[For her] To know that mummy can run.”

OAC middle-distance runner, Sinta Vissa was adopted at age nine, and moved from her home in Ethiopia to be raised in Italy. 

Inspired by the Ethiopian teams running at the 2008 Games, Vissa relocated to the U.S. in 2019, to run in The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The medals followed. Today, Vissa holds the Italian indoor record for the mile, and is the 2022 NCAA 1500m Champion. That win, Vissa explains, “changed my life.”

Shortly after, Vissa joined the OAC. Now, at 27, she’s based in Boulder with Obiri and the team. Vissa may live in a different timezone to her adoptive mother, but she is supported with every step.

“One thing I sacrificed to follow my dream,” says Vissa, “I decided to stay far away from my family.”

Vissa – both friend and teammate in Obiri’s inner-circle, understands the vicissitudes that many athletes must pass through to reach their goals. Whether that’s managing the risk of injury, racing setbacks, or living at a training base far from home – they connect through a dedication to their craft, and live with the sacrifices they make on the journey.

When Obiri stands trackside as Vissa trains, Vissa is energized: “Hellen’s been crushing it for so long…in a way, she gives me that push.”

Vissa and Obiri share a gentle humor, and yet Vissa emphasizes it’s an “honor” to know Obiri, “I knew how fast you were. How good you were. You were just a big inspiration for me,” she says. 

Vissa affectionately calls Obiri “mummy” and Obiri generously plays the role of mentor, “I see her as my little girl, and we have respect for each other…even though she’s young, she brings in something that can help me in running,” Obiri says of Vissa. 

Vissa’s adoptive mother echoes that encouragement, from her home in Italy. “As a mother, one senses certain things, And I sensed that [running] was your path,” she tells Vissa. “Returning home would’ve equated to a loss. For you, the family and the world of athletics. My wish is that you don’t forget where you came from.”

It’s these strong bonds of support – knowing that whatever role we may play, we are all on one team – that brings Obiri, Vissa, and the broader OAC together. Sacrifice is about choices, but  achieving greatness is not a choice one can make alone. “Dreaming together as a teammate with you makes it easier. Believing myself that if we can do it as a team, everything is doable,” Vissa tells Obiri.

In spring 2024, Athletics Kenya named Obiri as one of the six-person marathon team that will represent them at the Games in Paris this summer. She nods to her family, to Vissa and the OAC – but she runs for everyone with a dream, “I don’t want to let you down,” she says.

Vissa too, holds Obiri and her team close as she sets her dreams on this year's global stage.

Both have their inner-circle on side, whatever race day brings, "When training alone, you won’t get there," says Obiri. "When you hold each other’s hands and train in a team, you'll get victory and your future dreams.”