The 2024 Olympic 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwot has earmarked the Xiamen Diamond League to set the tone for his 2025 season as he gears up for the Tokyo World Championships later this year.
The Xiamen event, marking the opening leg of the 15-meeting Diamond League circuit, will set the tone for what promises to be a gruelling season culminating in the showdown in Zurich.
Kibiwot is determined to use the Xiamen meet as a springboard for a golden run at the Tokyo World Championships in September.
“My first race will be the Xiamen Diamond League, which I hope to build on with a strong performance,” Kibiwot revealed.
However, with the extended calendar stretching into September, Kibiwot plans a cautious approach to prevent early burnout.
“I will participate in a few Diamond League meets to prevent burnout before the Tokyo Championships because the season is very long,” he noted.
Kibiwot has already met the 8:15 minutes entry mark for the Tokyo championships with his 8:06.47 finish at the Paris Olympics, where he claimed bronze behind Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco ( 8:06.05 ) and USA’s Kenneth Rooks ( 8:06.41 ).
Kibiwot, now 28, is focused on upgrading his Budapest 2023 bronze to gold.
“I am confident that this year will be even better than last year because I am now more than prepared for any race,” he noted.
In the Hungarian capital, he clocked 8:11.98 to finish behind Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali ( 8:03.53 ) and Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma ( 8:05.44 ).
Kibiwot made his debut in the World Championships in Doha 2019, where he placed seventh ( 8:08.52 ).
He would later feature in the 2022 edition in Oregon, clocking 8:28.95 for fifth place with Bakkali ( 8:25.13 ), Girma ( 8:26.02 ) and Conseslus Kipruto ( 8:27.92 ) claiming the podium.
Despite El Bakkali’s dominance and the Ethiopian threat, Kibiwot is unfazed and has oozed confidence that Kenya can pull off a master class in Tokyo.
“El Bakkali and Ethiopians are expected to come prepared, but so will we. I don’t see them as a threat anymore. We are ready to fight for the top prize in Tokyo,” he said confidently.
Kenya’s steeplechase pride has waned recently, with El Bakkali ending the nation’s decade-long dominance in 2019.
Before Bakkali’s back-to-back victories in Eugene 2022 and Budapest 2023, Kenya had secured the world title in the event since Osaka 2007 courtesy of Brimin Kipruto with Kenya’s last victory coming in Doha 2019 through Kipruto.
Kibiwot believes the Serem brothers—Amos and Edmund—will be crucial in reclaiming the steeplechase throne.
“This year, we have a strong team. I hope we all stay healthy and injury-free. With the Serem brothers and myself, I’m confident we can secure top results,” he stated.
Edmund made headlines by claiming the world U20 title in Lima, Peru, last year while his brother Amos bested El Bakkali during the Brussels Diamond League final, finishing first in 8:06.90 with El Bakkali second in 8:08.60.
For Kibiwot, success in Tokyo will hinge on strategic execution.
Drawing from his experiences since his World Championships debut in 2019, Kibiwot plans to mentor the younger Serem brothers.
“Winning at the championships
isn’t about fast times, but smart strategies. I will share my experience with
the Serem brothers so we can plan to
beat the Moroccans and Ethiopians,”
he emphasised.
