• Even though Paris is hot, Gathimba doesn't expect it to derail him, with his race scheduled for 7:30 am local time (8:30am EAT).
• "The athlete's and coach's ambition is the same, to hunt for glory. We had great preparations and if he can better his all other performances, I will be gratefu," said the veteran tactician.
Image: NOCK MEDIA
The 2018 Commonwealth Games 20km race walk bronze medallist Samuel Gathimba says he is "wiser" as he competes in his second Olympic Games in Paris 2024 on Thursday.
In his debut at Rio 2016, Gathimba failed to finish and has since blamed it on excitement.
"I was excited to compete in my first Olympics. I was overconfident, you could tell by how I started the race. It was fast," he said.
This, he said, made him lose focus with just 500m left. "I followed the wrong route and finished the race prematurely. It's a learning curve. It will not happen again. I am wiser now," he said.
"I have prepared well even though we have had a busy season, especially, with the World Race Walking Relay Championships and the African Games," he said.
"To compete at this high level, preparations must be top-notch. Anyone competing here is good, confident and experienced. One must, therefore, get his calculations right."
Even though Paris is hot, Gathimba doesn't expect it to derail his focus with his race scheduled for 7:30 am local time (8:30 am EAT).
He has an eye on the podium and improving his 1:18:23 lifetime best to 1:18:18.
In addition to the Club Games bronze medal, Gathimba has three African titles and one at the African Games.
He has been to four World Championships with a best of fourth place at Oregon 2022. The others are London 2017 (position 30), Qatar 2019 (33) and Budapest 2023 (9).
He, however, says the Olympics are quite different and can only be, sparingly, compared with the World Championships.
"It calls for experience, good training, discipline and mental fortitude," he said.
"I have studied my progression over the years, alongside coach George Kariuki. We now know what to do and when to do it and I believe this will inform how I approach this race."
"His expertise is key. I have the talent and he has his ambitions to take me to the next level. I must be patient while adhering to his guidance. It's tough," he added.
Gathimba will be Kenya's lone ranger in Paris unlike in Rio 2016, where he was accompanied by Simon Wachira.
"It's quite a challenge, though not a first. I have competed against most of the guys here. I am used to the rigours," he said.
"There's always some pressure since we are all champions in our own right."
Kariuki tipped Gathimba to finally make his Olympic breakthrough.
"The athlete's and coach's ambition is the same, to hunt for glory. We had great preparations and if he can better his all other performances, I will be grateful," said the veteran tactician.
"It's a bit hot here but he will be done in less than an hour and a half before it becomes too hot to bear. I am certain about that."