Kenya’s wait for an Olympic gold medal continues with hopes shrinking further as days go by.
The devastating performance in the 3000m steeplechase left many Kenyans wondering where the rain started beating them and still there has been no answer to that.
Since 1968, the country has starred in the distance bar for 1976 and 1980, editions in which Kenya boycotted the summer games.
1968 (Amos Biwott), 1972 (Kipchoge Keino), 1976 (Olympic boycott), 1980 (Olympic boycott), 1984 (Julius Korir), 1988 (Julius Kariuki) 1992 (Mathew Birir), 1996 Joseph Keter, 2000 (Reuben Kosgei), 2004 (Ezekiel Kemboi), 2008 (Brimin Kipruto), 2012 (Ezekiel Kemboi), 2016 (Conseslus Kipruto ),2021 (Soufiane El Bakkali, Morocco).
The steeplechase has been Kenya’s race but recent performances from athletes from Ethiopia, Italy, Morocco and France have shown that the gap has fast been bridged, Kenya is trading dangerously.
Benjamin Kigen fought a gallant fight to claim bronze ‘the first for Team Kenya in Tokyo’ behind Lamecha Girma(silver) and Souffiane El Bakkali (gold).
Kigen is however not to blame for the dismal performance in Tokyo. The country has failed to evolve and the preparations have been showdy to say the least.
The reactions after the devastating surrender certainly proves that something needs quick fixing before the 2022 World championships in Oregon.
Many athletics pundits have faulted the Athletics Kenya’s technical bench for failing to find the right answers to the ever diminishing fortunes in the distance.
While we have been sitting comfortably thinking that we are untouchable in the steeplechase, other nations have been scheming on how to beat us, it has only been a matter of time.
Being a Kenyan Olympic steeplechaser definitely means pressure from the onset and Benjamin Kigen and Abraham Kibiwot knew that before the Monday final.
From what was seen on Monday, the athletes lacked coordination, tactical discipline and teamwork.
The Ethiopians stuck together, Kigen and Kibiwott did not know what to do, it was every man for himself, it became and individual thing instead of Team Kenya.
In the women’s 5000m, it was the same case as Hellen Obiri, Lillian Kasait and Agnes Tirop failed to get their act together allowing Sifan Hassan to claim an easy win and claim her first gold of the three she is chasing.
After the race, Obiri admitted that they did coordinate well. She wanted a fast race but none of her teammates helped the course and it thereby favoured the immaculate Dutchwoman who won in 14:36.79 with Obiri fighting for silver in 14:38.36 and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay taking the bronze to Addis Ababa in 14:38.87.
“The race pace was slow and this is what Sifan wanted. I wanted a fast race, but, unfortunately, none of us was prepared to go out fast,” Obiri said.
As we await for a first gold medal perhaps in the 800m on Wednesday, will it be business as usual after the Olympics?
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