Serem reveals 20 calls from father before race spurred him to Commonwealth gold

Teenage sensation Edmund Serem could hardly hide his emotions after announcing himself on the Commonwealth Games stage with gold, while Diana Wanza described her silver medal as another unforgettable chapter in the best season of her career as Kenya enjoyed a dream start to the athletics programme in Glasgow, Scotland.

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Serem delivered Kenya's first athletics gold medal of the 2026 Commonwealth Games on Monday night, storming to victory in the men's 3,000m steeplechase before Wanza added silver in the women's 10,000m to cap an impressive opening day.

The 18-year-old produced a devastating kick in the final lap to clock 8:18.23 and lead an all-Kenyan podium sweep. Simon Koech crossed the line second in 8:18.59, while Leonard Bett claimed bronze in 8:21.63.

Still soaking in the biggest moment of his fledgling career, Serem admitted he never imagined he would leave Glasgow with gold until the closing stages of the race.

“I was confident I would make the podium, but I didn’t expect to win gold until the last lap when I realised I still had something left in the tank,” said Serem.

“The field was very strong. We had world champion Geordie Beamish from New Zealand as well as Koech, who had just run under eight minutes in the steeplechase.”

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Making his Commonwealth Games debut, the teenager described the victory as a dream come true and said sharing the podium with two fellow Kenyans made it even sweeter.

“I am happy to have won my very first Commonwealth title in my first appearance. It’s such a huge achievement,” he said.

“I know my family back home, and the over 50 million Kenyans are happy. We also delivered a clean sweep for Kenya.”

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Serem also revealed the emotional support that kept him composed before the race, saying his father constantly encouraged him right up to the start.

“I received over 20 calls from my father, even when I was in the call room before we took to the track, encouraging me and advising me on my barrier clearance,” he said.

“He also wrote me a very long motivational message.”

Moments after Serem's triumph, Wanza also walked away with a smile after claiming silver in the women's 10,000m in 31:50.13, finishing behind New Zealand's Rose Davies (31:39.32), while Rwanda's Florence Niyonkuru took bronze in 31:55.47.

Rather than dwell on missing gold, Wanza celebrated another landmark in what she believes has become the defining year of her athletics career.

“2026 is a blessing year for me. It is a year I will always remember as my breakthrough season,” said Wanza.

Edmund Serem leads Kenya to historic clean sweep in men’s 3,000m steeplechase

“From winning gold at the African Championships to now winning silver at the Commonwealth Games on my debut.”

The African 10,000m champion also thanked those who have backed her rise to the international stage.

“I thank my Kenyan fans back home, my family and my management for their support.”

Fellow Kenyans Miriam Chebet and Rebecca Mwangi finished seventh and 10th respectively in 32:12.97 and 32:36.12.