Paris 2024: All eyes on Team Kenya as Olympic Games officially start

Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir celebrates as she crosses the finish line to win the women’s marathon at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She will defend her title n Paris. [File, Standard]

The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony this evening has been set to deliver pomp and colour to millions of sports enthusiasts following the event across the globe.

After the colourful marching, song and dance performances, focus quickly shifts to the epic battles for medals, with Kenyan athletics stars gearing to write their Olympics stories.

A peek into the previous Olympic Games shows athletics disciplines have produced the biggest number of medals.

Kenya has deployed its charges for the assignment, and as they face global counterparts for Olympic honours, an expectant athletics powerhouse is waiting for the opportunity to celebrate.

As has been the tradition for decades, athletics enthusiasts will be following the showdowns at the favourite clubs while others have already planned watch parties from today until August 11 when the athletics show comes to a close with the women’s marathon.

All eyes will be on races that Kenya has lost dominance in recent years.

The men’s 3,000m steeplechase and 1,500m titles have recently been a mirage and the country’s big shots will be looking to reverse the trend.

The women’s 3,000m steeplechase gold has also faced a threat in recent global contests including the 2020 Tokyo Olympics where Ugandan Peruth Chemutai stormed to victory.

In the last World Championships in Budapest, Bahraini star Winfred Mutile Yavi clinched the title, leaving world record holder Beatrice Chebet and compatriot Faith Cherotich battling for the silver and bronze respectively.

World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase gold medallist Amos Serem is leading Kenyan charges when the stars converge for the water and barrier race heats on August 5.

Serem, world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot and Simon Kiprop will be in a campaign to dethrone Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali – the defending champion.

Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who is among the country’s decorated steeplechasers who has been at the pre-departure camp in Eldoret has expressed confidence of medals in the event in Paris.

According to Kemboi, the Kenyan squad to Paris is one of the most prepared Olympic-bound teams.

He says he shared crucial steeplechase racing techniques that will give the country’s athletes an upper hand in the Paris showdown.

“I have some good boys (in Team Kenya). I have talked with them and they have promised me that they would do well,” said Kemboi.

The four-time World 3,000m steeplechase champion went on to say: “I have given them the necessary techniques to run well. They are young and still have time to regain our lost glory.

“I have been with them in the camp during the entire period of their preparation. I assure you (athletics enthusiasts) it is one of the best teams,” he added.

There is also the quest to quench the thirst for a 10,000m Olympic gold medal which was last brought home by the late Naftali Temu, 56 years ago in Mexico City.

Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, Benson Kiplangat and Bernard Kibet are the men tasked with re-writing the country’s history in the 25-lap contest.

Paris Olympics Deputy Chef de Mission Barnaba Korir says he is hopeful of more medals from the 2024 Olympic Games.

“This time round, our athletes are ready more than ever and determined because of the support offered to them to bolster their training.

“Every athlete representing the country in Paris was allowed to bring a pacesetter of their choice. They received everything that made them comfortable during training,” said Korir.

He said a majority of track and field team will leave the country by Monday, and are set to join sprinters, volleyball and rugby sevens among other teams that are already in Paris.