Paris 2024: May Kenya's hunt for medals now begin in France

Kenya's Daniel Mateiko with Elkanah Kibet and Nicholas Kipkorir during the Wanda Diamond League Prefontaine Classic on May 25. [AFP]

Athletics has no doubt been the country’s goose that lays the golden egg at the Olympic Games. For Kenya, the real hunt for medals begins.

Rugby Sevens and women’s Volleyball teams, as well as Fencing Queen Alexandra Ndolo have already represented Kenya in the 2024 Paris Olympics that kicked off on July 26 and will be coming to a close on August 11.

After Kenya’s legend, three-time African champion Samuel Gathimba takes to the 20km Race Walk start line this morning, attention shifts to an action-packed Friday.

At 10:20pm on Friday, men’s 10,000m final will set off and all eyes will be on four men; Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, Daniel Mateiko, Bernard Kibet and Benson Kiplangat.

The 10,000m final is expected to be a thriller, with global stars eying medals.

A rich field will be assembling for the race, with Kenya yearning for a medal in the second day of athletics contest at 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Kenyan men tasted the 10,000m title last in 1968 when the late Naftali Temu bagged gold at the Mexico City Olympics.

The men’s 10,000m Olympic gold medal has been elusive since then, but the Kenyan squad is hopeful of glory in the distance.

At their departure to Paris, the trio, who are tasked with re-writing the country’s history in the 25-lap event, exuded confidence.

During their training, the men’s team said it worked on their finishing kicks and will be ready to respond to the tough challenges from global stars eying medals in tomorrow’s final.

“If we are going to deliver the medals, then it will be because of the training. I can say our training in Eldoret was tough, but perfect. We worked on final kick reactions,” Kimeli, who had represented Kenya in 5,000m at the 2020 Olympics, told Standard Sport.

“In Tokyo, I lost the bronze medal after losing gas at the final stretch. I worked on the final kick during the training and I will be ready to compete well in the 10,000m.”

Kimeli did not make any promises but assured the country of a good show.

Observers say whoever will blink first in Friday’s 10,000m final will likely be punished given the stellar field.Keny a’s neighbours, Uganda and Ethiopia fielded their top guns for the much awaited 10,000m Olympic contest.

Joshua Cheptegei, who bagged silver at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021 following Covid-19 disruptions, will be a man to watch in the final race.

Cheptegei, 27, is taking to the start line one of the most impressive CVs in track racing.

He is the World Record holder in both 10,000m and 5,000m and will be doubling for his country in the two events.

During the last edition of the Olympics, the Ugandan star took home the 5,000m gold medal and is defending the title in Paris.

Jacob Kiplimo is another Ugandan gun aiming for glory in the 10,000m clash.

He won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics and followed that with another third place on the podium at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, USA.

Most impressively, Kiplimo is one of the highly regarded athletes in the entry list because he is the Half Marathon World Record holder.

The Ethiopian squad is also gunning for medals. The country has deployed big shots in its bid to settle on the podium spots.