TOKYO 2020: Kwemoi, Kipkurui carrying Kenya’s hopes of breaking 53-year duck

Kenya last won gold in 10,000m at the Olympics in 1968 through Naftali Temu and as team Kenya heads out to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics, the onus is on 23-year-old Rodgers Kwemoi and Weldon Kipkurui following the exit of Geoffrey Kamworor. 

Three-time world half marathon champion and former world record holder Kamworor announced through his social media handles that he would be skipping the Games. 

“(sic)This week I had to make the tough decision to skip the Olympics. I'm feeling very fit and in great shape, but unfortunately, a painful spot in my foot is preventing me from running 25 laps on spikes by next week. 

"I will build on the fitness I currently have and looking ahead towards great goals in the marathon in near future, see you soon,” he wrote as his manager Valentijn Trouw told Reuters on Friday,23 July that he developed a painful spot in his foot from an injury he sustained after he was hit by a motorcycle while training near his home in June last year, suffering a fractured tibia. 

The police officer had clocked 27:01.06 to finish ahead of national cross country champion Kwemoi (27:05.51) and Kipkirui (27:24.43) in second and third respectively at the national trials held in June at Kasarani. 

As he makes his debut at the Olympics, the 2016 World Under-20 10,000m champion, Kwemoi, is looking to build on his 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medal, with a better podium finish his target at the Games. 

“I have prepared well for the Games and my target is to be in the top three. I know there is pressure to break the cycle that has seen us miss the gold for this long but I believe I will be in the top two,” 

“The trials were in high altitude and we still managed to post good results and that means our training is going well. We are aware of the tough competition expected in Tokyo but that does not move us. We are thee to fight for that crown,” said Kwemoi. 

Competing in Tokyo will feel like being home away from home as Kwemoi has spent a considerable part of his career in Japan. 

“Japan has helped me in every aspect of my life, including training, financially and my development as a person. Whenever I am in Japan, I am able to access the best venues and gyms to improve on my speed work such that by the time I return home to Kenya, I am in great shape,” he said in a separate interview with The Star.