Nyairera sets rights on World title and 2020 Tokyo Olympics

Rio 2016 Olympic 800m Bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera is welcomed by her mother Ann, on arrival from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 2, 2016 at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • As Nyairera made her way out at the Kenya Airways exit lounge to an arousing reception from family members, friends and relatives, Directorate of Criminal Investigation officers whisked away Soi and Chacha to Muthaiga Police Station where their colleague Francis K Paul was also being held.
  • Nyairera’s mother Hannah Wambui welcomed her daughter with a bowl of sour sorghum porridge and sweet potatoes amidst song and dance.
  • Nyairera noted that the competition in Rio against experienced athletes have her the required exposure for another big stage.

Arrests of Rio Olympics Team Kenya Chef de mission Stephen Soi and his deputy James Chacha at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday night failed to cloud the majestic arrival of Rio Olympics 800m bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera from Rio Olympics.

As Nyairera made her way out at the Kenya Airways exit lounge to an arousing reception from family members, friends and relatives, Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI) officers whisked away Soi and Chacha to Muthaiga Police Station where their colleague Francis K Paul was also being held.

The three officials were taken into custody as part of the investigations following the mismanagement of Team Kenya at the Rio Olympic Games. It ranged from poor accommodation, travelling and kitting.

Unlike before when Kalenjin traditional milk, mursik, flowed freely to welcome athletes, Nyairera’s mother Hannah Wambui welcomed her daughter with a sumptuous bowl of sour sorghum porridge and sweet potatoes amidst song and dance.

The Kenya Airways plane carrying Nyairera and seven other athletes from Rio via Luanda, Angola touched down at 10am after two hours delay.

Nyairera said that her bronze achievement in Rio marked the start of her journey to stardom.

"My target was a podium finish at the Rio Olympics and I achieved that...I just want to thank God for his blessings," said Nyairera, 20.

"The bronze is just a stepping stone to good things that I believe God has line up for me."

Nyairera, who hails from Nyangacha, Nyeri County, now targets the World title next year in London before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Nyairera noted that the competition in Rio against experienced athletes have her the required exposure for another big stage.

WON BRONZE

"I was so tense in the final but I now know what to do in my subsequent races," said Nyairera, who won bronze in 800m at the World Indoor Championships in March in Oregon, USA, besides winning the 2014 World Under-20 800m title.

Nyairera also represented Kenya in 800m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing where she lost in the first round.

At the Rio Summer Games, Nyairera lost to South Africa's Caster Semenya and Francine Niyonsaba from Burundi, who claimed gold and silver respectively.

"I didn't prepare well this time as I started training late, but I will hit the track early enough ahead of next year's World Championships," said Nyairera, who warned that Semenya and Niyonsaba's days are numbered.

"They (Semenya and Niyonsaba) are beatable and I know what to do after racing (against) them," said Nyairera, who has drawn inspiration from her role model Vivian Cheruiyot, who stunned favourite Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia to win Olympics 5,000m title in Rio.

About Faith Chepng'etich, who won the 1,500m title at Rio "Olympics she said: "It shows nobody is untouchable and anything is possible."

Nyairera will compete in one more Diamond League race in Brussels before taking a break.

" I just don't want a podium finish in London Worlds but that gold medal...I want to take revenge against Semenya and Niyonsaba at that stage," said Nyairera, who dedicated her bronze to Kenyans and her fans across the World.