•Gathimba said posting a personal best time of 1:18:34 was a remarkable achievement and he cannot wait to fly the Kenyan flag in Paris.
•Team Kenya captain Emily Ngii failed to finish the women’s race walk on Sunday.
Image: ERICK BARASA
Africa champion Samuel Gathimba says he may not have won a medal in the men’s 20km race walk here in Budapest but he is satisfied with the fact that he has qualified for the next year's Olympic Games.
Gathimba said he had two targets prior to the race and he is happy to have achieved one.
“The race was very tough and I am happy to have finished among the top 10,” he said.
He said posting a personal best time of 1:18:34 was a remarkable achievement and he cannot wait to fly the Kenyan flag in Paris.
Considering the times posted by the top 10 athletes, he said, anyone could have won the race.
“The times were world class and I am happy to have been among those who performed well,” he noted adding that he will take his training a notch higher as he looks forward to a packed season next year.
The 36-year-old said he will have to feature in a number of events, before the Olympics, including the Africa Athletics Championships and the All Africa Games in Ghana.
“My training continues from here as I look forward to next season,” he said. “ I am one athlete who does not take a break and as such, I am always on the move in as far as training is concerned. Discipline has always been my trademark."
Gathimba also revealed he had other sporting passions before settling on race walk.
“I have been all over. Initially, I was a volleyballer and my passion for the game is still there. I was a centre during my school days and I still want to play the game when I retire from athletics,” he noted.
"I am also involved in singing and dancing. Prior to race-walking, I was in the entertainment industry and I used to dance for money. I am still involved in singing and I am a member of Gitugi AIC Church.”
Gathimba, a father of two kids, cited coach George Kariuki as the strength behind his career.
“My coach, despite not being attached to this team, has helped me a great deal. He has always been there for me and he even predicted the time I will run here while still in Nairobi and I was really close. He predicted 1:18.26 and I did just a few seconds shy,” revealed Gathimba.
He said he missed some push during the race.
“Considering where we have come from as walkers, we need a coach permanently attached to us. I know my colleagues have had to dedicate less time to race-walking due to lack of a coach."
Meanwhile, Team Kenya captain Emily Ngii failed to finish the women’s race walk on Sunday.