Mark Otieno opens up on fatherhood experience
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 24.04.24. | 15:00
The sprinter was blessed with his first kid earlier this year
On January 16, 2024, Kenyan sprinter Mark Otieno and his wife Stephanie Muluka Odhiambo welcomed their bundle of joy.
"My world changed for the better. My son was born, and he has my whole heart plus more. Truly, my God is a God of restoration. You can trust him," Otieno shared on his social media platforms.
Months later, Otieno has been registering an improved performance in every competition he has graced. To begin with, the speedster is n Team Kenya for the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas. He will compete in the 4 × 100m men's team together with Meshack Baabu, Ferdinand Omanyala, Samuel Chege, Mike Mokamba, and Hesbon Ochieng.
He ended his month with the Kipkeino Classic Tour. Despite finishing sixth after clocking 10:22, the sprinter was glad that he set a season-best time. He noted that the rain posed a significant challenge to achieving his personal best time.
"The race was good despite the weather. The weather has had an impact on my running. You can't perform so well in this weather. If it was hot weather, I would perform better," he started.
"Season-best and fastest I've run in two years. I am excited and confident about what God is doing in my life. Brick by brick," he continued.
At the same time, Otieno noted that balancing the demands of professional athletics with the responsibilities of fatherhood was no easy feat, but he approached both tasks with similar dedication. He smiled, expressing his substantial enjoyment of every moment he spent with his child.
"To be a dad is an honour and a pleasure. My son has my personality and he has his mom's looks," he told Mozzart Sport while smiling.
Otieno urged his fans to be on the lookout for greater exploits this year, as he aims to represent Kenya in the much-anticipated Paris Olympics.
"The real Mark Otieno is back! Step by step and everything will be awesome. My ultimate goal is to qualify for the Olympics," Otieno offered.
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Otieno is returning to the track after the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) imposed the ban on him after he allegedly tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid methasterone. This resulted in his suspension from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, just moments before he was scheduled to compete in the 100m heats.
However, Odhiambo successfully appealed the ban, leading to a reduction in his suspension period.
Otieno caught the attention of the athletics world with a hand-timed 10.1, finishing a remarkable second in the Kenyan trials for the prestigious 2015 World Championships in Beijing.
The following year, he continued to showcase his potential and determination, lowering his official best to 10.39, earning him a well-deserved second place at the Kenyan Championships.
However, it was in 2017 that Odhiambo truly made a resounding impact on the sport. During the Kenyan national 100m title race in Nairobi, he displayed his exceptional speed and talent, clocking a blazing time of 10.14.
This impressive performance not only secured him the national title but also booked his spot at the highly coveted 2017 World Championships.
The World Athletics Relays are slated for March 4–5 at the Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas, and there is shared optimism that he will live up to the billing.
