Paris Olympics: Reynold Cheruiyot keen to fulfill goal in debut Olympics

It is without a doubt that when 20-year-old Reynold Cheruiyot Kipkorir readies himself for the 1500-meter gun on Friday, August 2, in Paris, his dream will have been achieved, and yet there is still more on offer.

A fairly unknown name at the back end of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 will now be rubbing shoulders with the best of the best, a testament to the low-key but high-flying career he has had.

Cheruiyot was born in Bomet County on July 30, 2004, in an athletic family that had both of his parents actively take part in the sport but failed to make it to the global scene.

Interestingly, Cheruiyot, who only picked up athletics seriously after completing his high school education at Kipleji High School, competes hard just as if to make up for his parents’ missed opportunities.

“My mom and dad were both athletes but never got the opportunity to represent Kenya in international competitions or even compete abroad,” Cheruiyot said moments after marking his biggest achievement by winning gold in the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, two years ago. “In my mind, I had vowed to follow in their footsteps and one day make them proud.”

There is no argument that he has managed to do that, given his already impressive portfolio, which makes him among the favorites in France.

His U20 world title in 2022, aged 18, was his welcome moment to the public, where a calm, composed gentleman rattled out what he would like to achieve in the next 10 years.

“I want to win the World Championships and be an Olympic gold medalist,” he said.

Looking back since those proclamations, Cheruiyot has gone on to win silver at the 2023 World Athletics U20 Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia, clinch an African U20 gold, and compete in the prestigious Diamond League, a stage where he has set numerous personal bests over 1500m.

Jokes on you if you think that’s all because he holds the world U20 mile record (3:48.06), set in Eugene on September 16, 2023, and was this year’s winner of a tightly contested Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo Stadium, where he set his best time this year.

Thus the reason it felt befitting when he controlled the pace on a calm Friday afternoon at the Team Kenya Olympic Trials in Nairobi, before grinding out his competitors to a 3:35.63 finish and ' stuff of dreams’ win.

Reynold Kipkorir living his dream after sealing Olympic slot

“It was always my dream to make the Olympic Games and I am so delighted to be going to Paris,” Cheruiyot, who is coached by Jacob Langat, said post-race. “I have not enjoyed my sleep since last week thinking about today’s race, but am glad it went all well.”

And despite having two names in mind that might offer him more sleepless nights in the Olympic village—Norway’s European record holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen and reigning World champion Josh Kerr—one can rest assured that the youngster will give it a go in his dream destination.