Kenya’s Olympic legends have urged national team for London Olympics to strive and win more medals than what the country got at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Pauline Konga, Kenya’s first woman to win an Olympic medal, advised the athletes to stay relaxed and not to worry much about what to expect in London.
Konga said a relaxed mind enabled her to win silver in 5000m at the 1996 Olympics where she was competing alongside Paul Bitok Konga, her husband.
“After realising the potential of a relaxed mind I advised Paul to do so and he managed to come out with gold in the same category,” said Konga.
Charles Asati, a silver medallist at the 1972 Munich 4x400m relay team, is asking the athletes to take on their fears head on and step on the acceleration pedal if they are to dominate in London.
Asati said the current crop of athletes are lucky, they have many incentives including monetary benefits if they excel in the games unlike the past generation who were not honoured or rewarded accordingly.
“During our times we were only rewarded with food alongside the fame. It could not make us rich,” said Asati.
Asati also asked the Government to reward past athletes who made the country proud.
Five times World Cross Champion, John Ngugi on his part, asked the athletes to exhibit self belief saying it was possible to win gold in all the 17 categories Kenya will be participating at in London.
Ngugi is still remembering the good old times when he would walk on the streets with his head held high because he was a champion. He now wants the Kenya team to emulate him and attain similar recognition when they come back from London.
Other legends who talked at the SuperSport farewell dinner fucntion on Tuesday night in Nairobi include Kipchoge Keino and current 800m Olympic champion Wilfred Bungei.
‘Olympics games is the highest stage in the competition. Kenyan team should prepare enough, I can only equate it to the America Grammy awards.
“I will be in London to give our team the moral support they need,” said Bungei.
