Two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui is ready to dance again in Daegu on Sunday

Two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui returns to Daegu on Sunday, the city where he danced 14 years ago after winning the marathon race at the 2011 World Athletics Championships.

Kirui, who also won the marathon race at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, said he has been training for the Daegu Marathon for four months.

The 2016 Chicago marathon champion said: "I failed to perform well at the Fukuoka Marathon on December 4 due to my involvement in the 2022 general elections (as a police officer). However, I have prepared enough for Daegu especially after the organizers said I should return after 14 years."

The 2012 Olympic marathon silver medalist was scheduled to leave the country last evening. He said he is excited after having a chance to compete in another top marathon, even as his 20-year athletics career heads toward the horizon.

"After Daegu, I want to run in Chicago, go to Tokyo, then the Olympic Games next year in Paris, then go back to Berlin where I started and say bye-bye to sports. I began my marathon running in Berlin in 2006 when I paced for Haile Gebreslassie but decided to finish. It was so painful but I was happy to finish ninth," said Kirui.

"I am foreseeing another victory in Daegu, just like in 2009. It feels great that I am still running and I thank God for that. The majority of my running mates back then have since retired but I still have the energy to run and win. I have remained relevant in the game because of discipline and my love for the sport," he said.

Kirui recalled his rivalry against the likes of Robert 'Mwafrica' Cheruiyot, Martin Lel, Duncan 'Jamaica' Kibet, and Christopher Cheboibch among others.

Meanwhile, Kirui has called for the establishment of more local track events to stem the current situation where youngsters are heading for road races early in their careers.

"A motivating factor in this world is money, that is why many athletes are running in marathons. We want to see sponsors and race organizers pumping more money on track to avoid this mass movement into road running," he said.

posted Thursday March 30th
by Emmanuel Sabuni