Craving for olympic gold: Cheruiyot returns to action with focus on Rio Games

Vvivian Cheruitot with her son Allan Kiprono Kiplagat after training on Tuesday. [PHOTO:EMMANUEL SABUNI]

Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot’s cabinet is full of trophies and medals but one is missing:The Olympic Games gold.

In her return after a two-year maternity leave, Cheruiyot’s focus will be on gold during Rio 2016 Games in an effort to take her athletics career to the next level.

“I have achieved much in athletics, winning medals in almost all world competitions, but I miss Olympics gold medals. I hope to win one in the coming summer Olympics,” said the two-time world champion at her home in Uasin Gishu County on Tuesday.

The diminutive athlete is working on how to cut her weight ahead of the her next competitions. She is targeting the world cross country championships in Guiyang, China and World Championships in Beijing, China.

When former Diamond League jackpot winner gave birth to her son Allan Kiprono Kiplagat, she weighed 56kg. The athlete who now weighs 40kg aims at losing two more kilos.

NEW RUNNING STYLE

“I have been out of competitions but I will return with a new style of running. I will be stronger after spending my two years. At the end of this year, I will compete in at least one race in Europe to gauge my speed. At the same time, I will try local races before going on championships later next year,” she said.

Cheruiyot says she loves running for the country. “I like this country. Those taking citizenship of other countries don’t value this nation. I love my country, raising its flag in world competitions makes me happy,” added Cheruiyot after conducting her daily morning run alongside her husband and coach Moses Kiplagat.

On the numerous inspirational messages in her cabinet full of trophies she says: “When I read these messages, I know God has done everything good in my life, but I still have a long journey ahead of me, I am yet to win gold in Olympics,” she said.

CUT DOWN WEIGHT

Despite being a 5,000 and 10,000m specialist, Cheruiyot runs more than 100m a week. Her husband Kiplagat says she has to do all that to ensure that she cuts her weight to put into practice ‘train hard and win easily,’ slogan

“Every Monday, we always do a long run of about 30km. She does 20km in the morning and 10-12km in the evening. On Tuesdays we do 15km in the morning and 10km in the evening. Every Wednesday, we climb hilly places before loading on Thursday. Friday is meant for speed work before ending our programme on Saturday on the track. Sunday is our day to serve God,” Kiplagat says of their weekly training programme.

Kiplagat said despite Cheruiyot being 55 per cent fit for competitions, he cannot allow her to compete as she is not fully ready for it.

“I will allow her to compete in major competitions when I’m sure that she will perform well. I want her to return to good shape first,” explained Kiplagat who also trains Cheruiyot’s younger sister Lydia Cheruiyot.

Lydia will compete in road races, starting with half marathon before embarking on full marathon later. She competed in Birmingham, Manchester and World’s Best 10km road races winning in both races and setting her personal best of 30:47 in