Maasai marvel Kidali hopes to make Paris Olympic memorable

At just 21, Koitatoi Kidali is gearing up to make his Olympic debut, with hopes of following in the footsteps of David Rudisha and etching his name in the Maasai Community’s history.

Rudisha is a two-time Olympic champion (2012 and 2016) as well as the current world 800m record holder (1:40.91).

Kidali earned his Olympic spot after finishing third in the two-lap race in a time of 1:42.66 at the national trials at Nyayo Stadium.

Wycliffe Kinyamal (1:42.50) and world silver medallist, Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:41.70) took first and second positions, to complete a formidable Team Kenya. Reflecting on the trials, Kidali expressed his surprise at securing a place in Team Kenya at the Olympic Games.

“I was not sure I would make the team for Paris because there were so many top athletes. It came as a surprise to me and I was not even able to celebrate at the finish line because I was still in shock,” Kidali stated.

It was in the final 200m of the race that Kidali found the push he needed. “I saw Wanyonyi take off and decided to go with him to ensure a podium finish,” he noted.

Kidali, making his first appearance for Team Kenya after a near-miss at the African Games Trials, shared his excitement. “This will be my first time in Team Kenya. I’m thankful that my first call-up is to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games,” he said.

At the African Games trials held on March 6 at the Nyayo Stadium, Kidali clocked 1:46.07 for fifth place. Looking ahead to Paris, Kidali’s goal is to reach the finals and then aim for the podium.

“My target is to make the final in Paris. After that, I will begin planning for a podium finish,” he stated. He acknowledges the strong competition he expects but remains confident in his coach Sylvester Nakeel’s tactical training.

“There is no doubt the field will be strong as it was evident with the Paris Diamond League last weekend. My coach has, however, prepared me tactically to ensure I extinguish any threats,” he pointed out.

At the Paris Diamond League, Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati set a world-leading time of 1:41.56, just ahead of Wanyonyi (1:41.58) and France’s Gabriel Tual (1:41.61). Kidali is optimistic about a Kenyan podium sweep at the Olympics if all of them make the finals.

“When we get to the final, the three of us will work together to ensure we get a podium sweep,” Kidali highlighted.

In preparation for the Olympics, Kidali is focused on improving his speed and endurance. “I am working on my speed and endurance for the Olympics. The championships have many heats, unlike Diamond League meetings. Endurance will be vital to get good if I am to post good results in Paris,” he stated.

He also emphasised the importance of a strong mindset. “I need to go into the Olympics with the right mentality and be psychologically ready for the battle,” he added.

Born in Namanga, Kajiado County, Kidali’s journey on the track began at a tender age while schooling at Engaboli Primary School in Maili Tisa, Kajiado South.

“My journey on the track started in primary school. I was quite talented and the teachers used to always encourage me during school games,” he pointed out. Kidali initially specialised in the sprint events.

“I used to run the 100m, 200m and 400m,” he stated. So good was he that he got to represent the school at the national games in 2012.“I was able to represent my school at the nationals in 2012 in the boys 400m. I, however, did not get any medals but that did not drain my hopes,” he added.

The first-born in a family of six (three boys and three girls), drew inspiration from his father Kidali Linkioko who used to run the 400m. “I got the motivation to take up running from my father.”

“My dad used to compete in the 400m. I am grateful to God because he gave me and my dad the talent for athletics,” he added. After primary school, Kidali joined Natatai Secondary School, where he elevated his experience on the track.

“I joined high school and continued honing my skills on the track during school competitions. I was also a star in the school’s football team playing as a winger,” he stated.

After high school, Kidali was recruited by his coach Nakeel and started training at Ngong Hills. Following an advice from his coach, Kidali switched from the sprint events (100m, 200m and 400m) to the middle distance (800m). “My coach advised me to switch to 800m because I had the talent and speed for it. All I needed to build on was my endurance,” he noted. His first major race was the World U20 Trials in 2022, where he placed second in a time of 1:46.32 but failed to make the team to Cali, Columbia.

“My first major race was the World U20 trials in 2022. I placed second but unfortunately, I was not able to make the team,” he noted.

Reflecting on the trials, Kidali highlighted his anxiety. “I was nervous because it was my first race. I did not know what to expect,” he stated.

Failing to make the team to the World U20 Championships, however, did not faze him as his talent had already shone on the national stage.

“Not getting selected in the team did not put me down because a lot of people saw my talent and I was able to get races outside Kenya to improve my skills,” he stated.

After the trials, Kidali competed at the fifth edition of the Memorial Wieslawa Maniaka in Poland on August 24, 2022, where he finished third in a time of 1:45.24. Poland’s Patryk Dobek (1:45.04) and Collins Kipruto (1:44.42) took the first two places respectively.

He later took part in the Hungarian GP Series, Budapest, on September 2, 2022, placing second in a time of 1:46.45 behind Daniel Huller (1:46.08). His gradual rise was, however, hit with a major setback with the tragic loss of his father in December 2022.

“I lost my dad just when I was beginning to etch my name in Kenyan athletics. I was devastated,” he stated. As the firstborn, he has had to take care of his younger siblings, who were all in school.

“My siblings are in school so I had to step up as the man of the house. It was quite difficult because I did not have a job and all I had to rely on was athletics,” he highlighted.

“My coach helps me out sometimes because it is a heavy burden to carry at such a young age,” he added. Inspiration from his coach has kept him going.

“I get so much encouragement from my coach. Getting through the death of my dad was hard but he stood by me. I knew I had to be strong and keep my dream of competing on the international stage alive so that my father’s legacy could live through me,” Kidali mentioned.

His resolve was evident during the second Athletics Kenya track and field meeting in February 2022, where he clocked 1:47.85 for second place. Later in April, he featured in the Botswana Golden Grand Prix, clocking 1:45.00 for third place behind South Africa’s Tshepo Tshite (1:44.90) and Abel Kipsang (1:44.60).

In June 2022, he clocked 1:47.12 to win the second Citta Di Lucca meeting in Italy before clinching a victory at the Track Night Vienna (1:45.25) the same month.

This year, Kidali has featured at the Spanish meeting Jaen Paraiso, clocking 1:45.78 for second place behind Netherlands Ryan Clarke (1:45.74).

He won bronze at the Anhalt meet in Germany, clocking 1:47.16 behind Kethobogile Haingura of Botswana (1:47.09) and South Africa’s Edmund Plessis (1:46.71).

In future, Kidali wants to venture into other middle and long-distance races. “In future, I want to also shift to the 1,500m, 5,000m and maybe the 10,000m as well,” Kidali added.