Eliud Kipchoge banking on teamwork to propel marathon team to glory in Paris Olympics
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 11.04.24. | 08:39
The double olympic champion believes Team Kenya marathon squad needs to work together to achieve success in the upcoming Olympics
Double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is rooting for teamwork to propel Team Kenya to the 2024 Paris Olympics to greatness. This year's Summer Games are scheduled for July 26 to August 11 in the French capital, Paris.
There were no major surprises as Athletics Kenya trimmed its marathon squads for the Paris 2024 Olympics a week ago with the Tokyo Olympic gold medalist headlining the list together with Vincent Kipkemoi, Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, Tokyo Marathon runner-up Timothy Kiplagat and Prague Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso.
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According to Kipchoge, the 11 athletes (six women and five men) will lean on each other’s shoulders to deliver medals at the Summer Games. He noted that they would use the remaining months to sharpen their skills ahead of the games.
“We are happy to represent the country and fly the country’s flag high. We have enough time to prepare and focus on Paris. All of us believe teamwork will guide us to glory in Paris,” the three-time London Marathon champion said.
He congratulated his teammates for making the cut, noting that it was the first step to registering impressive results.
“The most important thing is to participate and then fight for the medals,” he noted.
His sentiments were echoed by 2021 Olympic Marathon silver medalist Brigid Kosgei who noted that they would fight tooth and nail to win the gold medals.
“Teamwork will help us shine in Paris. I request my fellow athletes to give it their best and ensure the country retains both titles,” she said.
Brigid is joined by Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, 2019 world champion Ruth Chepng’etich, 2024 Tokyo Marathon runners-up Rosemary Wanjiru and New York Marathon third-place finisher, Sharon Lokedi.
Kenya is allowed to enter a maximum of three runners in each of the Olympic races.
With World Athletics set to reward athletes for reaching the pinnacle of sporting achievement in this year’s games, there is shared optimism that the Kenyans will use that as a motivating factor to perform better.
World Athletics will be the first international federation to offer prize money at an Olympic Games. Athletes who clinch gold in the 48 athletics events will receive Ksh 6.5m each.
