Nowicki to use Kip Keino Classic to prepare for Olympics

Olympic hammer throw champion Wojciech Nowicki. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Olympic hammer throw champion Wojciech Nowicki cannot wait to get his season up and running at today’s Kip Keino Classic at Nyayo Stadium.

Nowicki said he is looking forward to an excellent outcome at the competition as he prepares to defend his title at the Paris Games in the summer.

“The main goal is the Olympic Games and the European Championships. This Saturday, I will start my season…it is my first competition (of the year) so we will see how it works out. We are in April and I am not yet in a good shape but I will try to do my best,” the Pole said.

Nowicki is returning to Kenya for the fourth time, having first competed at the second edition of this World Continental Tour Gold event where he finished second.

He returned in 2022 to finally clinch top honour before repeating the trick at last year’s edition – both of which were staged at Kasarani Stadium.

Reflecting on the Kip Keino Classic, Nowicki had nothing but glowing words for the event: 

“Last time, I was happy…I think it is an amazing competition because there are many spectators. For me, it is the perfect place to start off my season. I am happy to be here once again and thank you for the invitation,” Nowicki said. 

He will be up against an elite field that includes fellow countryman Pawel Fadjeck, who beat him to first place in 2021.

Despite dominating the Kip Keino Classic since then, Nowicki is careful not to believe that history will repeat itself today.

The Pole says he will assess the level of competition before coming up with a conclusion on what to expect moving ahead.

“I want to first see how they’ll perform. I know this will be the first competition of the year for most of us. It’s three months to the Olympics so I am not focusing on it now. I want to see how far I will throw on Saturday. Then I will think about the European Championships because they are for me a test before the Olympics,” he said.