Gathimba using AK meets to prepare for Summer Games

With his ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Games almost assured as he has attained qualifying times, reigning Africa Walk Race (20km) champion Samuel Gathimba is burning the midnight oil to make his trip to Japan count as he eyes a medal at the highly competitive global event.

Gathimba, is part of the first phase of athletes who are in residential ‘bubble’ camp at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani preparing for the Summer Games. Athletics Kenya (AK) sent the first contingent of 33 athletes, in 100meters men and women, 200meters men and women, 400 meters men and women, 20km walk men, and Javelin throw.

“We have been in camp for almost two weeks and training is going on well. We are training under the watchful eyes of coach George Kariuki and my mind is set on posting better times in upcoming AK track and field meets. I am not seeing the meets as competitions where I have to win but I am more focused on lowering my times in whatever distance the coach decides that we race. For the upcoming second leg, the coach has hinted at setting the distance at 15km as opposed to the 10km we raced in the first leg,” Gathimba shared.

Gathimba faced little competition in AK’s first meet held at Nyayo National Stadium over the weekend as he won in 42:03.8 ahead of Keyborn Ombato who finished in 44:07.1 for second place as Africa Junior champion Dominic Ndingiti placed third in 45:44.7.

The 34-year old says having a coach dedicated to the race walkers is a blessing to him and will go a long way in ensuring his preparations are top notch ahead of the Tokyo 2020 event.

“In Rio, I ended up not finishing my race after an official gave me wrong directions after 19km that led me to the finishing area instead of my final loop. If I had travelled with a coach such a mistake would not have happened and I am elated that we will have a coach this time around. While I have said I want to be in the top ten, I am not ruling out a medal from the race despite the tough competition expected,” he offered.

While Gathimba did not medal at the Rio Games, he made amends at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games two years later, bagging bronze in a time of 1:19.51. Gathimba finished behind England’s Tom Bosworth who posted his personal best time of 1:19.38 for silver. Australian Dane Bird-Smith won gold with a Commonwealth Games record time of 1:19.34.