Athletes out to correct London 2012 mistakes
Athletics
By
Jonathan Komen
| Aug 05, 2016
After the low key performance at the 2012 London showpiece, Kenya heads to the Rio games with heads held high.
The athletics squad wound up training yesterday at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, all breathing fire ahead of the track and field action that begins on Friday next week.
The team's departure to the Samba nation, Brazil comes against a backdrop of anti-doping compliance challenges in the run-up to the Olympics in what threatened to throw the goose that lays Kenya's golden egg to the dogs.
With threats of Zika virus in Brazil and anti-doping non-compliance stealing headlines, there have been genuine fears that Kenya's love affair with Olympics, the epitome of human endeavour, could become a cropper inside Maracana Stadium.
Judging by the oomph exhibited by the athletes at Kipchoge Keino High Performance Centre and Kazi Mingi Farm in Eldoret, the world beaters are ready for battle in Rio de Janeiro and thereafter sunbathing on the famed Copacabana.
A number of athletes have vowed to ensure they compete 'clean', and avoid breaking the new Anti-Doping Act and save Kenya's sporting reputation.
The athletes made a rallying call just days after President Uhuru Kenyatta asked them to 'compete clean' if only to shame those who have doubted their ability. David Rudisha, the Olympic 800m champion, said he is ready to retain his title.
great shape
"I am in great shape and hope to defend my title. I have run the world leading time this season and that tells me I am heading to the right direction. We only need prayers from Kenyans to perform well," Mr Rudisha said yesterday at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.
"We want to compete clean and maintain the image of our nation," he added.
But they will be out to rectify mistakes that saw Kenya win two gold, four silver and five bronze at the London Olympics, which was way below the six gold, four silver and four bronze at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing – which remains the best performance in Kenya's Olympic history. Head coach Julius Kirwa said his charges were ready to take on the world's best.
"They have trained here well. We have not seen any serious issue and the athletes now need to be psychologically set for the competition. I have no doubt that this is a good team," said Kirwa. World 800m bronze medalist Eunice Sum and Voila Lagat, a member of the 1,500m squad, concluded their training at Kipchoge stadium.