Kipkeino: My moment with Kenyan squad to Paris Olympics

Athletics legend Kipchoge Keino joins Team Kenya members for a group photo alongside officials at the High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret last Friday. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

A cozy haven nestled in an expansive farm on the outskirts of Eldoret, the City of Champions once again played host to the country’s Olympic-bound stars.

It is late afternoon at the Kipkeino High Performance Training Centre founded by Kenyan legend Kipchoge Keino, a two-time Olympic champion (1,500m in 1968 and 3,000m steeplechase in 1972), and a big part of the country’s middle and long distance track athletes are focused on the final touches of their training as they prepare to depart the country for Paris.

Kipkeino as he is popularly known, stood tall as Olympic athletes prepared to rush out for their evening jogs.

To the athletes, who will be flying Kenyan colours at the 2024 Paris Olympics from Thursday, August 1, the serene, well manicured camp is a sanctuary where Kipkeino, one of the country’s fathers of track athletics grabs every opportunity to ooze wisdom.

Kipkeino, 84, says he was proud and elated to have hosted the country’s Olympic squad for over a month. The team was selected at the national trials in June.

The retired athlete and former National Olympic Committee of Kenya President says he got another opportunity to encourage Team Kenya during their stay in a camp that has produced tens of Olympic medals.

Mzee Kipkeino lives just a stone throw away from the camp.

“The athletes have promised me that they are going to the 2024 Paris Olympics to make grandpa (Kipkeino) and the country proud. Their stay at the camp was one of my happiest moments,” says Kipkeino who was preparing to depart for Paris where he will be among honorary leaders of the Olympic movement representing the International Olympic Committee.

During their stay at the Eldoret-based camp, Kipkeino says, he took time to dole out Olympic stories and tactics whenever he passed by.

“We had a chat with the young team. I told them to remember where they come from while representing the country in Paris.

“When I was with them here, I discussed with them the importance of developing and sustaining speed work.

“More importantly, I shared with the team my experience in competing at the Olympics and other international championships. I was elated because they keenly listened to an elder who competed at a time when technology was not advanced,” Kipkeino told Standard Sports.

Kipkeino says he was proud that he made their stay comfortable. He established the camp decades ago with proceeds from his tea farm in Nandi.

It is situated in high altitude necessary for preparing athletes for a tough contests.

“The vegetables, milk, the goat meat and the bananas that the Olympians enjoyed during their stay were right from the farm,” Kipkeino, who is already in Paris said.

The camp had also hosted part of the Kenyan team to the 2016 Rio Olympics.

While in Paris, Kipkeino says, he will continue motivating the team to Olympic greatness.

“I am going to continue giving them my blessing and sharing words of wisdom in Paris. I am proud because athletics started during our days and the talent continues to grow many decades later,” said Kipkeino.

He says he is hopeful the athletics team to the Paris Olympics, which kicked off yesterday, will deliver medals and has the potential of confirming Kenya’s status as a powerhouse of athletics.

Kipkeino urges the country to invest in production of more young athletics coaches.

He was in the company of legendary athletics coach Mike Kosgei, one of his protégés.

“The team is determined to win medals and impress grandpa. We have advised and encouraged them to approach the games with a strong mental stamina so that they make us, their grandpa is, happy,” Kosgei said.

Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who is part of a team supporting athletes at the camp, says he remains grateful for Kipkeino’s selfless efforts in building athletics careers.