Last chance saloon for Obiri in Olympics gold medal hunt

In search of her first gold medal in the Olympic Games, multiple-time world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri has sounded off her plan to fly Kenya’s flag in 2024, when she intends to be among the athletes taking part in the women’s marathon race in Paris.

Speaking at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport following her arrival back to the country, Obiri, Sunday’s winner of the 10km Great Manchester Run, reiterated earlier reports that her focus was solely in marathon races, hinting that she was going for her ‘last gold’ in the Olympics.

“Of course yes,” Obiri told the media on Monday when asked whether she will be among the women marathoners eyeing the Olympics title in Paris. “I will be the one flying the flag for the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) team then. I’ll be there, and that's the last gold I'll be looking for in the Olympics.”

The drive, as she narrated, is driven by the fact that she, on three trips to the Olympics, hasn’t laid her hands on the top prize.

“I've been going to the Olympics and failed to win gold. I now believe that the last chance I have to win is Paris,” a seemingly motivated Obiri added.

The only woman to have won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country made her Olympics debut in the 1500m race in London, where she finished 12th - her position upgraded to 8th after a few athletes were eliminated due to doping violations.

In Rio 2016, Obiri ran in the 5000m race where she finished second in a time of 14:29.77, only behind compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot who won in an Olympic record time of 14:26.17.

The 2018 African champion would then attempt a 5000m and 10000m double in the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, where she finished in second and fourth place respectively, before clocking a personal best time of 30:10.02 in the 2022 World Championships 10000m race where she claimed silver behind Ethiopian Letensebet Gidey.

“Sincerely speaking, my body has been great since I competed in the Cross Country race in January because I have been winning in every race and haven’t lost any,” Obiri added.

Obiri got her 2023 campaign off to a strong start, winning the RAK Half in February, and then claimed the New York City Half Marathon in March.

Obiri hints at New York City marathon return after defending Great Manchester 10km

In her second stab at the full-distance marathon, Obiri on 17 April claimed the 2023 Boston Marathon when she outdueled one of the deepest women’s fields ever assembled, winning ahead of Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso in a time of 2:21:38.

Asked about taking her training to the United States - where her family stays - she said; “I love it. Training in high altitude offers me 100% opportunity, as does bring close to the management and company.

“Sometimes they see you and advise on which shoes you need to wear, give them to you and you can also visit a highly equipped gym all which don’t exist here in Kenya. I get full support from my team.”

Obiri now intends to shift to ‘a faster course’ either November or December, one that she will make an announcement on next month.