• The two legends will assist the long-distance coaches Julius Kirwa, James Mutisya, David Letting and Askaria Jelagat.
• Kemboi, one of only two athletes to secure two Olympic steeplechase golds, clinched his first title in Athens with an 8:05.81 finish, leading a Kenyan sweep.
Image: HANDOUT
Athletics Kenya (AK) has enlisted two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Richard Mateelong to bolster the men’s 3,000m steeplechase team’s quest to reclaim the Olympic crown in Paris.
Kenya's 32-year dominance in the event ended when Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali clocked 8:08.90 to win the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma (8:10.38) and Benjamin Kigen (8:11.45) completed the podium. Kenyans had ruled the race from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics where Julius Korir won the title in 8:11.80.
Joseph Mahmoud of France (8:13.31) and Brian Diemer (8:14.06) sealed the podium.
Conseslus Kipruto (8:03.28) was the last Kenyan to win the event at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He beat USA's Evan Jager (8:04.28) and Mahiedine Benabbab of France (8:11.52).
Deputy Chef de Mission and AK youth development director Barnaba Korir said the legends will impart invaluable knowledge to the athletes.
“Kemboi and Mateelong will assist our athletes by sharing their extensive experience and guiding them to reclaim the crown. The world associates steeplechase with Kenya,” he stated.
The two legends will assist the long-distance coaches Julius Kirwa, James Mutisya, David Letting and Askaria Jelagat.
Kemboi, one of only two athletes to secure two Olympic steeplechase golds, clinched his first title in Athens with an 8:05.81 finish, leading a Kenyan sweep.
Brimin Kipruto (8:06.11) and Paul Koech (8:06.64) sealed the podium.
Kemboi secured his second at the 2012 London Games, clocking 8:18.56.
Kemboi also boasts four world titles – Berlin 2009, Daegu 2011, Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015.
He also has three world silver medals – Paris 2003, Helsinki 2005 and Osaka 2007.
Kemboi’s personal best of 7:55.76 set in 2011 in Monaco places him as the sixth fastest athlete in history.
Mateelong, on the other hand, boasts a bronze medal from the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he clocked 8:11.01.
He won silver at Berlin 2009 and a bronze from Osaka 2007.
World U20 champion Amos Serem, African Games bronze medallist Simon Koech and 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Abraham Kibiwot will do duty for the country in Paris.
Korir highlighted the motivational boost the legends will provide to the athletes, helping them manage the pressures of global competition.
“The legends will motivate the athletes, encouraging them not to be afraid on the global stage. We have young athletes like Serem and Koech, who are under pressure,” Korir said
“Kemboi used to walk into every competition radiating confidence. He will help the young athletes gain more confidence."
Korir revealed the athletes will have different training camps. The sprinters (100m, 200m, 4000m) and middle-distance athletes (800m, 1,500m) will camp in Kasarani.
The long-distance athletes (3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m) will camp at the Kazi Mingi farm in Eldoret.
Korir said AK, the Ministry of Sports and the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK), will support the athletes.
“All facilitation for the athletes has been addressed... from training equipment to welfare and allowances. We are ensuring our athletes are fully prepared for Paris,” Korir affirmed.
Team manager Peter Angwenyi said coaches will meet on Saturday to formulate training programmes.