Why have you gone back on your plan to retire from track?

In this series in the Sunday Nation we invite readers to send questions to select public figures. Answers will be published in the next print and online editions of the newspaper. This week the athletics superstar Ezekiel Kemboi responds to your questions

You had announced that you would retire after the Rio Olympics; what pushed you back to the track?

Martin Gitonga Njeru, Marima, Tharaka Nithi

I felt I wanted to finish while at the top because I was robbed of my bronze medal and the incident that happened (being disqualified for briefly stepping off the track) made me re-think the decision. I decided to go back to the track and take part in next year’s World Championships in London where I hope to win gold. After that I can retire.

Congratulations for giving Kenya a good image in athletics. But what really made you lose your medal in the just concluded Rio Olympics?

Jeff Chepkwony, Sigor

In sports anything can happen — you can even fall down. I stepped outside the track due to the external force from the other competitors on the water jump and according to the IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) rules I had to be disqualified. Kenyan officials should have launched an appeal but they did it late and the rule says you have to do it within 30 minutes.

How many more games are you expecting to participate in before you retire?

Wilfred Kipkoech

I will take part in the 3,000 metres steeplechase race in the World Championships. That is my only goal for now. I will announce the next move after that.

Kenyan athletes have often complained of double-taxation on their winnings. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel in resolving this matter with the Kenya Revenue Authority?

George Oriwo, Mombasa

For now the athletes can breathe easy after President Mwai Kibaki intervened. We were usually taxed in Europe and other countries where we participated in competitions. Those athletes who were taxed were refunded their money and when President Uhuru Kenyatta came in we also approached him and everything is fine now. We are not complaining but it has to be clear so that no one will be taxed in future.

In your personal capacity, how do you support budding athletes, if at all?

Githuku Mungai, Nairobi

I usually advise the upcoming athletes and tell them how to plan well for their races. Personally there are six young athletes who I support, including paying for their air tickets when they have races outside the country. Some come back winners while others lose, but that is the nature of sports.

Congratulations for your great performance over the years and putting Kenya on the global map. But what do you think are the causes of runners defecting to run for other countries and what can be done about it? Did you ever consider defecting? 

David Chege, Eldoret

Kenya has a poor scheme of rewarding athletes and if you can remember Ruth Chebet, the Kenyan-born athlete who won gold in the 3,000 metres steeplechase in the Olympic Games, she was awarded about Sh50 million among other things because she represented Bahrain while Kenya was awarding one million shillings to a gold medalist. Some consider it better to go for good money because everyone is looking for a better life. I was approached long time ago to change my nationality but I did not agree to do that since I love my country so much and I will never change. But Kenya should think of a better scheme to reward athletes so that they can stop looking for a better life in other countries.

You are surely the greatest athlete Kenya has ever had and I am one of your ardent fans. I have two questions for you: first, what is your secret to keep going and maintaining form at the highest level of competition for this long? Second, as a seasoned athlete what caused you to step on the outer lane at Rio that led to your unfortunate (and for me heart-breaking) disqualification?

Francis Kibe, Naivasha

Since I started training and participating in many races, self-discipline has helped me achieve my dreams. Knowing what to do at the right time, training, mingling with people and going for holiday will give you good results. During the race, I was pushed by the athlete from Eritrea and the Ugandan after the water barrier and that made me step outside the lane. This is normal in sports.

Congratulations for what you have been able to achieve in your athletics career. As a resident of Eldoret, I understand your massive fan base. In fact, during the Rio Olympics, your fans walked away disheartened when your compatriot Conseslus Kipruto won the race. My concern is what you are planning or what you have done to assist upcoming athletes who look upon you as a role model? How are you also helping in the fight against doping which is threatening to ruin this sport that is passionately adored in the North Rift? Have you ever thought of coming up with Ezekiel Kemboi Foundation?

Komen Moris, Eldoret

Conseslus Kipruto is my good friend and in fact I won my first gold medal in 2004 when he was in Standard Three. He is a good boy and he is going to do well in many races. In sports, there are examples like last weekend when a big team like Manchester United was beaten by Watford (in the English Premier League). It is the same in my case. For upcoming athletes, I usually advise them to be selective and not run all races since they will wear out and lose focus. They should listen to their coaches in order to run well for a longer period. I also help some upcoming athletes by paying for their air tickets since not all are capable of supporting themselves. Concerning doping, my advice has always been that athletes must run clean since it’s not good to have quick money that will not help you in the end. Doping has no benefit because if you are caught you will be jailed and you will ruin your career.

I have the Ezekiel Kemboi African Foundation but I will launch it after my retirement so that I can fully concentrate on giving back to the society.

Congratulations for always raising Kenya’s flag high in athletics. Would you say both the county and national governments are doing enough to promote sports in Kenya?

Steve Maina, Nairobi

The county government has made some efforts by grading the roads which are now good for our training, but there is more they can do to improve sports. On the national government, they have also done well in some ways. An example is the renovation of Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret which has helped us in training, especially during the wet season. I can give them 20 per cent since we are still waiting for the five stadiums the government promised so that the upcoming athletes can benefit.

You have been my favourite athlete since 2004. Previously you said after the Rio Olympics that you will retire then you embark on the marathon. Will it be half or full marathon?

Daniel Kimutai

For now I’m putting those plans on hold because next year I will still participate in the 3,000 metres steeplechase race in the World Championships and after that I will make an announcement.

Mr Kemboi, what is it with your hairstyles during major games and do your sponsors have any say on the same?

It’s just for fun to make the sport enjoyable just like soccer where certain players like Ronaldo (Portuguese footballer who plays for Spanish club Real Madrid ) shave a certain hair style. It makes your fans have memories that in a certain year you shaved a certain style. I like doing things in a different way and my sponsors have no problem with that since they just tell me they are waiting for me to win.

What are your plans in 2017?

Kirui Philemon, Eldoret

My plan for next year is to train well for a better performance during the World Championships in London. My goal is to be among the top three so that I can reclaim what was taken away from me since I’m also the defending champion.