Two-time Olympic champion Eliud
Kipchoge will ensure that athletes’ welfare and well-being are prioritised once he
resumes office as their representative at the National Olympics Committee of
Kenya (NOCK).
Kipchoge’s message to athletes comes
hours after he was officially nominated by Athletics Kenya (AK) as a
representative for male athletes Monday, ahead of NOCK’s national elections
set for April 24.
The legendary marathoner has built a
stellar athletics career in the last 20 years, commanding respect across the
world.
Kipchoge, 40, has been to five
Olympic Games—the most of any Kenyan in history—winning four medals, two of
them marathon gold from the 2016 and 2020 Games.
Kipchoge says he will be the
conveyor belt between athletes from different disciplines and their respective
federations to ensure welfare is prioritized.
“I want to include every athlete in
every federation for his or her own voice to be heard in matters of education,
empowerment and in matters of holistic living,” said Eliud Kipchoge.
“I think this is the right time,
because I've been in sport for more than 20 years, and I need to give back to
sport.”
Beyond the Olympics, Kipchoge has
been a great ambassador of Kenyan athletics, flying the country’s flag high on
the track, cross country and road races around the world and achieving numerous
accolades.
His dedication, perseverance, and
sportsmanship have made him a role model for aspiring athletes not just in
Kenya but globally.
Kipchoge further pointed to his
wide-ranging experience in sports as a core reason he is the man for the job,
and he will use his experience and knowledge to handle the challenges
associated with being a sportsperson.
“I have been on both sides of the
mountain…the high and the low. I know how it feels as an athlete to be on both
sides of the mountain. I know the pressure from the family, teammates, and the
government as well,” added Kipchoge.
Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya say they
are pleased to nominate the legend for the core position.
“Eliud Kipchoge is not just an
incredible athlete, he is a beacon of athletics in our country and that is why
we were honoured to nominate him for the position,” Athletics Kenya president
Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jack Tuwei said.
Federations affiliated to NOCK
nominated the representatives directly, with no elections involved.
While Kipchoge will be the male
athletes’ representative, national women’s rugby 7s team captain Grace Adhiambo
has been nominated to represent the females and will take over from Hellen
Obiri.
Outgoing male athletes’
representative Humphrey Kayange, a former Kenya national sevens star, is also
part of the International Olympic Committee.
