Paris 2024 Olympics: Veteran mile race Timothy Cheruiyot's counsel to government, Kenyans

The soft spoken 1500m runner will lead the country's charge for medals in probably his final Olympic Games appearance.

The 2019 world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot has requested Kenyan fans and the government to show athletes the respect they deserve.

The 28-year-old explained that most of the time, athletes are treated like nobodies yet they raise Kenya’s flag high on the global scene.

Cheruiyot added that athletes go through several challenges and the last thing they expect is to be treated poorly by their fans. He disclosed that some sleep hungry and suffer challenges in training like getting proper training gear and grounds.

“There are a lot of challenges in terms of training and sometimes food in the camp. When you ask an athlete their background, you will be surprised because some athletes even sleep hungry,” Cheruiyot said on the Safari za Mabingwa show.

“However, maybe in two years or a year, they fly Kenya’s flag high and I would the like the government and Kenyans to give the athletes the respect they deserve,” he added.

The Olympic Games 1500m silver medallist had a disastrous season last year, finishing ninth in the semifinal of the World Championships in Budapest and failed to proceed to the final.

He recounted how Kenyans on social media came at him and spread rumors that his career was over after the performance.

Little did they know that Cheruiyot had just suffered an injury 10 minutes to the semifinal. However, he was bold enough to show up for and finish the race. He added that Kenyans will always praise an athlete when he/she is winning but the moment things get tough, they always turn their backs on the athletes.

“Last year in Budapest, people said my career was over but I had an injury. I got an injury 10 minutes to the call room since I had a tendon tear and it took time for me to heal. However, my management flew me out and I received treatment,” he said.

“An injury among athletes is something common but you have to take care and ensure you avoid them at all cost. When you don’t perform, people automatically say your career is over without even knowing the challenges you are going through.”

posted Tuesday July 23rd
by Abigael Wafula