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'Doing it for my kids'- Kenya's new 800m star shares main motivation ahead of Olympics debut in Paris

Lilian Odira has opened up about the main motivation behind her pursuit for success in her debut at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

National 800m champion Lilian Odira has opened about her main source of motivation as she gears up for her maiden Olympic Games in Paris, France.

The Africa 800m silver medallist explained that her children mean the world to her and she cannot stand not being able to provide for them. Odira took a maternity break in 2020 and returned to competition in 2023 after having her two kids.

Speaking to Nation Sport, she noted that it was not an easy ordeal trying to make a comeback. The 25-year-old had added weight to 86kg and had to cut down to about 55kg, something that proved to be an uphill task.

However, she noted that two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri, having walked the same path, was very instrumental in ensuring she does what is necessary to regain her form.

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“I’m doing all these just for my kids. You can’t explain to them (her kids) that you don’t have so I just have to work hard because of them. In 2020, I took a maternity break and then when I came back, I don’t if it’s by good luck or bad luck, I also got another baby,” she said.

“Then in 2023, I came back and my goal was to shed my weight. It’s not an easy journey, I had 86kg coming back from maternity and I remember Hellen Obiri is the one who took me to jog and I felt like it was not necessary for me to pursue this career. Obiri kept on motivating me and encouraging me since she had also been there.”

She had to sacrifice a lot, explaining that she used to do long runs up to 30km. Odira also explained that self-belief is what helped her get back into shape.

Odira bounced back this season, winning the national championships and proceeding to the Africa Senior Athletics Championships where she won a silver medal behind Sarah Moraa.

She also punched her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and it will be her first time on the global stage. This was after she won the national trials, clocking 1:59.27 to cross the finish line ahead of Mary Moraa and Sarah who clocked respective times of 1:59.35 and 1:59.39.

“In Paris, it’s going to be a surprise to many…the trials were a surprise to many. I see many people talking on social media saying that we can’t win a gold medal,” she said.

“I think there was this race that Moraa had with Keely Hodgkinson and she came first. After that, people started talking but I want them to understand that as an athlete, you don’t get to win every day. People forgot about the many things Moraa has done and focused on that loss only.”