READY TO WALK THE TALK: Kenya walkers focus on podium finish in Rio

Walker Samuel Gathimba in training session at Kipchoge Stadium, Eldoret [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

Six-time Africa race walk champion Grace Wanjiru and 2016 Africa Walk champion Samuel Gathimba are upbeat of great performance at Olympics Games as they depart for Brazil.

For lack of support by Athletics Kenya, 28-year-old Gathimba did not take up the sport since leaving Gakuyu High School until 2014 when he joined the Kenyan Prison Services.

Today, Gathimba is emboldened to pursue his first love. His time of 1:19:24 makes him the tenth best 20km walker of 2016 in the world, just less than two minutes of Japan’s Eiki Takahashi, who leads the season with a time of 1:18:26.

“I have really worked hard in training. My Rio Olympics qualification is due to persistence. I can assure you walkers will come back with medals,” said Gathimba.

The other man in the 20km walk team is Simon Wachira, who finished fifth at the Africa Championship in Durban, clocking his personal best of 1: 23.26.

After mysteriously missing the 2012 London Olympics despite having qualified, Wanjiru is finally making her debut ranked 32nd in the world. She believes her long wait to grace the Olympics Games will be blessed with a podium finish.

“I have participated in numerous race walk championships across the world, but have never gotten a chance to be at the Olympics. During the 2012 London Olympics, I was dropped by selectors despite having qualified but I never lost hope. I just continued to work even harder.

"I have conquered all my challenges and now ready for the Olympics. I have fully recovered after winning my sixth Africa tittle in Durban last month. I’m ready for my opponents in Rio,” said Wanjiru who was a bronze medal at the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Wanjiru will face up with top ranked walker of 2016 season Hong Liu (1:25:56), second placed Maria Guadalupe González (1:26:17) of Mexico. Another Chinese Shenjie Qieyang (1:26:49) and the home girl Erica de Sena of Brazil who is ranked fourth with a time of 1:27:18.

Race walk coach Mark Baraton believes the exposure his team has acquired in recent years can propel to them podium positions at the Olympics.

The walkers leave today for Rio via Luanda, Angola.