Building the city of champions: an examination of the motivations and impacts of athlete entrepreneurship in Kenya

Purpose
This paper examines the under-explored phenomena of athlete entrepreneurship in Kenya.

Methodology
Semi-structured interviews with current and retired athletes, and Athletics Kenya representatives.

Findings
Athlete investments are personally and societally important and have led to significant social and economic development. We uncover the pivotal role of associated stakeholders, such as coaches, in influencing and educating athletes about investments. Furthermore, we show that elite athlete entrepreneurship and investment comprise a unique form of athlete-led entrepreneurship that is driven by necessity, but also opportunity from their sporting career.

Practical implications
There are lessons for local government and athletic federations about how best to support athletes non-sport lives through education.

Research contribution
There has been growing interest in sport-based, and athlete-led entrepreneurship over the last decade. Very little has focused on how athletes make investment decisions, who the main influencers are, and the potential social and economic impacts of investment activity on athletes and local communities. Very little, if any, of this work has centralised athletes from the Global South.

Originality
This paper makes a significant contribution to this phenomena through an examination of athlete investments and entrepreneurship by high-profile Kenyan middle- and long-distance runners.