Samuel Gathimba out to walk his way to glory
Samuel Gathimba in action during the National Athletics Championship 20km men race walk final on July 10, 2015 at the Safaricom Stadium. Gathimba will make his first Olympics appearance in Brazil. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
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Kenyan duo to debut in Rio
African race walk king Samuel Gathimba hopes to strike gold when he makes his first appearance at the Olympics this year in Rio de Janeiro.
Gathimba walked to glory at this year’s African Athletics Championships held in Durban, winning Kenya her first gold in the discipline. He timed 1hour, 19.24min at this year’s edition of the African Athletics Championships in Durban.
His time was not only a championship record but was also a national record.
Gathimba made his international debut with an impressive second place finish at the 2014 African Championships in Morocco.
He then demonstrated that he ought to be among Africa’s best at the 2015 African Games when he lost out to South Africa’s Lebogang Shange for the second time by a margin of one second.
Gathimba is enthusiastic to represent Kenya for the first time at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 20km walk race and expresses that he has been dreaming of this moment.
“I am are very happy to represent our country at the Olympics for the first time. I have always dreamt of this and it has finally come. Appearing at the Olympics is every athlete’s desire. I hope this is my year to shine,” Gathimba said after Friday’s training session at Kipchoge Stadium in Eldoret.
RED-HOT FORM
The athlete hopes to carry his red-hot form this season to Rio.
“In an athlete’s career, it reaches a point when you feel that your legs are willing to do better. This is my moment and I will take everything step by step but the Olympics obviously carry more weight than the African Championships,” he said.
Gathimba will compete alongside compatriot and fellow Olympics debutant Simon Wachira who came fifth at the African championships.
“I am prepared to compete against great opponents who I have never faced before. We will work together with my colleague Wachira,” added the in-form walker.
The two will come up against China’s Chen Ding and Wang Zheng who won gold and bronze medals respectively at the 2012 edition of the Olympic Games in London, but Gathimba says their new training approach this year will make a difference.
“My coach Mark Baraton has taken us through a series of training sessions that has really made us stronger and better. As athletes we also have our own strategy in mind that we will employ in Rio Olympics,” said the 28-year-old.
