As the countdown continues to the 2024 Paris Olympics Games in France, Team Kenya’s middle distance coach Bernard Ouma has urged fans to alleviate pressure on athletes to enhance their performances. Coach Ouma emphasized that negative pressure and the high expectations for desired results can be challenging for athletes, especially at such a significant global sporting event.
“Athletes are also human and anything can happen before the race. If they are not settle psychologically then it becomes difficult to give a good outcome due to performance anxiety.Therefore, let us not put immense pressure on the athletes. I know they have trained well and they are ready to fight for the pride of our country.Our is that they are motivated enough for the challenge ahead since both the Ministry of Sports,NOCK and Athletics Kenya have taken good care of us in camp,” coach Ouma said.
Team Kenya’s 800m athletes for the Paris Olympics have been intensively training as the countdown to the Summer Games continues. Coach Bernard Ouma is overseeing the preparation of middle distance athletes across the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m events.
He expressed satisfaction with the current state of preparations, emphasizing the importance of fine-tuning to eliminate any potential errors. The team is scheduled to depart for the Miramas camp as part of their final preparations.
“We are doing the final touches,just sharpening since the athletes are already on top shape ahead of the competition. part of the final training includes confidence boost and running style in terms of race simulations.”
Bernard Ouma, an experienced coach who was part of the technical team in Tokyo, Japan three years ago, takes pride in securing three medals in middle distance races, specifically the 800m and 1500m.
At the Tokyo Olympics, Emmanuel Korir clinched gold in the men’s 800m, while Ferguson Rotich earned silver. Timothy Cheruiyot also secured a silver medal in the men’s 1500m.
However, the women’s team did not perform well in the 800m event in Tokyo. Mary Moraa and Emily Cherotich were eliminated in their respective heats and rounds.
Looking ahead to the Paris Olympics, the prospects are promising. Although Korir did not qualify for the Men’s 800m in Paris, Emmanuel Wanyonyi shows great promise, joining experienced athletes Wycliffe Kinyamal and Koitatoi Kidali.
Mary Moraa, now a world champion in the women’s 800m after her success in Budapest, will be closely watched. She holds a personal best of 1:56.03, which boosts her confidence heading into the competition.
Lilian Odira, who topped the Kenya trials, is optimistic about her Olympic debut. Attached to the Kenya Prisons Service, Odira recently won a silver medal at the African Athletics Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
Vivian Chebet, representing the Kenya Defence Forces, qualified for the Olympics through world rankings. She boasts two bronze medals from the 2023 All African Games in Accra, Ghana, and the 2024 African Athletics Championships.
