Olympics 800m silver medalist Ferguson Rotich says he might transition into coaching once he hangs up his spikes.
Rotich said he has acquired a lot of knowledge from his many years on the track, which he would want to share with upcoming athletes.
"Should I hang up my spikes, I think coaching would be the natural route for me. As an athlete, you learn a lot during your time on and off the track. I would love to work with young athletes and help them grow their careers," the world 800m bronze medalist said.
Rotich said he has been helping out upcoming athletes, providing them with wise words of advice to grow their careers.
In particular, he cited world under 20 800m bronze medalist, Noah Kibet as one to watch in the future of the two-lap race.
"Kenya has been a world leader in 800m and as those who have been in this game for long, we are obligated to motivate the younger ones to keep the fire burning. Kibet is one of those we are always sharing ideas and exchanging notes with. He has a bright future ahead of him," he said.
Rotich finished a disappointing fourth in Saturday's Kip Keino Classic, timing 1:45.97 in a race won by his protege.
Kibet won the race in 1:44.97, ahead of Collins Kipruto (1:45.68) and Cornelious Tuwei (1:45.90).
"I was not feeling well today after a busy schedule in the year. Because of the allure of running on home soil, I decided to compete today and am proud of the result. The focus is now on next year's competitions,"Rotich said.
Kibet credited Rotich for the win, thanking him for sharing valuable tips before the race.
"Before the race, he told me he was not feeling well but wanted the best for me. Usually, I prefer to start on the front foot and dictate the pace until the end but Ferguson advised me to try something different. So this time I decided to bid my time for the first lap in the second or third place before kicking on in the last one," he said.
He further described Rotich as a father figure who is always providing him with tips on how to overcome the challenges in life and become a top runner.
"Our relationship is very great. In a competitive setting, not everyone is your friend. But with Ferguson, he is always whispering wise words in our ears to help us grow our careers. This is timely considering the many years he has spent in this industry. If it were any other person, they would give you bad advice," Kibet said.
He added: "Honestly, I did not expect to win this race considering I was competing against the heavyweights in 800m. Only when I crossed the finish line did it hit me that I had won."