Obiri hopes to bow out with elusive Olympic gold

By Kelvin Kimathi |BBC

Kenyan great Hellen Obiri has a host of medals from her career on the track, but Paris 2024 could yet offer the perfect way to bring the curtain down on a glittering career in the colours of her country.

The 34-year-old is a two-time Olympic silver medallist in the 5,000m and, following an effortless transition to the road, is among the favourites for the women’s marathon on Sunday.

She has won three of the four marathons she has entered, including successive victories in Boston, one of the six World Marathon Majors.

“This is the only missing accolade in my athletics career,” Obiri said in an interview with BBC Sport Africa.

“If I win an Olympic gold I would have achieved everything I have wanted career-wise, because I have won World Cross Country, World Championships and other major races.

“It will be an exciting moment for me, I can’t even imagine. I will fight up to the end to make this dream come true.”

Topping the podium at the Olympics would mean so much to Obiri that she is planning to retire from championship races if she accomplishes that feat.

“I think this will be my last Olympics, but I see myself going extra hard,” she said.

“If I win it, I will give [an] opportunity to the upcoming athletes in 2028. I will be running other races, but I will not be in Team Kenya for championships.”

However, Obiri faces an uphill task to achieve her ultimate dream.

Tigist Assefa, defending champion Peres Jepchirchir and Sifan Hassan will provide her with stiff competition.

Assefa emerged as a major candidate for Olympic gold when the Ethiopian set the world record of two hours, 11 minutes and 53 seconds at last year’s Berlin Marathon.

Obiri’s compatriot Jepchirchir, meanwhile, will not give up her title lightly, having won the London Marathon in April in a women-only world record of two hours, 16 minutes and 16 seconds.

And Hassan, a Major winner in London and Chicago last year, already has a bronze medal from the 5,000m at these Games, although fatigue could hinder the Dutchwoman because she is also set to race in the 10,000m on Friday, prior to taking to the streets of the French capital for the marathon on Sunday morning.

“I will run my own race,” Obiri said.

“I am well prepared and ready for the battle.”

Obiri has done her homework on a “very difficult” course which will include two climbs with a combined elevation of 436m.

“I took a lot of time to study the course to plan on how to handle the hills and strategise in training,” she added.

“When there are many hills it becomes difficult. Most of us are used to running a flat course.”
In 2019 Obiri became the first woman to win world titles in outdoor track, indoor track and cross country events.

And her big mission when she transitioned from the track to the road in late 2022 was to make the Kenyan Olympic team in a quest to complete her range of global titles.

In pursuit of this, Obiri moved away from her family in September that year to live in the United States and train under coach Dathan Ritzenhein.

At first she left husband Tom and daughter Tania back in Kenya, but the family has now settled in Boulder, Colorado.

“You get more opportunities when you are where the company is based,” Obiri explained.

“In the USA all I need is at proximity.

“I have easy access to the things that I need for proper training like shoes, training facilities, gyms and [a] nutritionist.”

Injury prevention and treatment was foremost among her thoughts as she prepared for Paris 2024.

“The most important part is avoiding injuries and working on recovery after injuries,” she explained.

“Here, when [you are] injured, it is well handled and you recover quickly.”

Ahead of the Olympics, Obiri has been featured in a film entitled ‘The Heart to Race’.

The eight-minute long YouTube film showcases Obiri’s journey to Paris and her preparations alongside club training partner Sinta Vissa of Italy.

“I urge Kenyans and all athletics fans to watch the film,” Obiri said.

“Hopefully we can continue marketing ourselves and put Kenya on the map.”

There is little doubt about Obiri’s heart for the race, and Sunday’s marathon in Paris could be the perfect way to prove it one final time at the Olympics.