Ugali and managu is my food anytime- Nicholas Bett 400 Metres hurdles champion

How did you get into athletics?

My father is a sportsman. He participated in volleyball, short races and long jump. He encouraged us with my brother Haron Koech to take up sports seriously. He was happy to see us compete in volleyball and run around the compound. At times, he sat aside to watch and cheer us play at an early age.

We joined Form One in Paul Boit Kapkong but he decided to transfer us to Cheptil High School so that we could develop our sports talents well.

We ran 100m hurdles in school up to national championships. Our mother was keen to see us excel in academics. Our father is now the vice chairman of Athletics Kenya Uasin Gishu branch.

How does your diet look like and what’s your favourite food and drink?

I love taking fresh milk around 10am after our training session. Ugali and managu is my food anytime. This is also the meal that my mum tells me I was weaned on and grew up with.

If you had only one hour to live, what would you do with it?

I will be grateful if in that one hour I will have won an Olympics gold medal. That’s what I cherish most. But It’s God who decides for us.

Are you taken or is there hope for some single somewhere?

I am married to Gladys and we have three children.

Where did you meet your wife, was she your first crush?

It’s interesting. We met while we were still in high school. I was in Form Four at Cheptil High School while she was in Form Three in the neighbouring Ndalat Gaa Girls High School. It was during the holiday when I spotted her heading to the market. I gathered the courage to stop her and say hi. She responded with a pensive smile. After some few minutes, we got to know each other well. At last, I asked if I could contact her by phone and she lazily took my cell phone number. By then, I owned a ‘mulika mwizi’. I could then contact her through her elder sister’s cell phone.

Did you propose to her and how was it?

Of course, yes. After we had gone out for sometime and a long soul-searching, I one day asked her if she minded being my wife: I didn’t want to waste her feelings and I was mature enough to get married. She accepted my proposal.

Did you wed, or you guys eloped?

I have not had a formal wedding but we have had a pre-wedding cultural ceremony called Koito in Kalenjin. In fact my friend Ferguson Rotich (fourth in 800m at the world championships in Beijing) was my best man. We are planning for the Christian wedding soon.

What or who inspires you?

I have a number of people, America’s Edwin Moses, the 400m hurdles athlete has inspired me a lot. He is a very good hurdler and have always wanted to emulate him, having won medals in Olympics and the world championships.

In the athletics world, who do you consider your best friend and why?

Ferguson Rotich is my best friend. I have known him for long. We used to play volleyball together while still in secondary school. I just like his principles, love and determination.

When do you plan to retire?

Retirement? (he laughs off). It’s not too soon. I still have 30 years in competitive running. I want to graduate steadily from 400m hurdles to even marathon (42km) and even if I reach 60 years old, I will still run.

What’s your take on doping?

I can’t comment on that. I will play my role as an individual.

Parting shot?

I thank all my fans. They have made me who I am. I know well that I have enemies like any other human being but I thank them all.