Paris 2024: Kenya aims for early medals at Paris Olympics with Gathimba and Cherotich in action

The athletic program gets underway at the Paris Olympics on Thursday, giving Kenya a chance to bag its first medal of the Summer Games when African walking race silver medalist Samuel Gathimba takes to the track.

The 36-year-old heads to the games motivated after missing out on the Tokyo Olympics, aiming to replicate his 2022 success when he became the first Kenyan to win a Walk Racing Team Championship medal.

As he returns to the Summer Games, Gathimba's experience will be crucial as the sole Kenyan representative in the discipline, competing against a strong opposition.

The three-time 20km African Walking Race champion and 2022 world medalist is keen to bring Kenya its maiden medal and set a positive tone for the other athletes.

“I’ve trained well and attended several competitions. I want to be the first athlete to medal for my country in Paris, nifungue njia ya wenzangu,” he told the Team Kenya media team.

Gathimba’s journey to the global stage has not been easy, but the 2016 season was a breakthrough for him.

At the 2016 African Championships, he became a continental champion, winning a championship record of 1:19:24, also a Kenyan record.

He has since been a constant figure on the continental podium and relies on his experience to secure a medal in France.

“The experience I gained in Rio 2016, combined with all the African championships I have attended, will play a critical role in my performance on August 1. I believe I have what it takes to deliver in a major world event,” Gathimba said before Team Kenya’s departure to France.

Aware of the competition, the African Games silver medalist says he is physically and mentally prepared. “Training has been good, and I am physically and mentally prepared to do my best in Paris. I know the toughest competition will come from Japanese and Chinese athletes, but if I stick to my game plan, I could beat them and be on the podium,” Gathimba added.

Paris Olympics: History beckoning for trailblazing Judoka Zeddy Cherotich

Elsewhere, Zeddy Cherotich is set to make history as the first Kenyan woman to compete in judo at the Olympics when she faces 25-year-old Patricia Sampaio in the under-78 kg category.

Cherotich fully committed to judo in 2022 after switching from javelin, a turning point that earned her 182 points to secure a ticket to Paris.

Cherotich made her debut for the country at the Africa Open Championships in Morocco, where she reached the quarter-finals.

She made the Kenyan team for this year's African Games and advanced to the second round before reaching the semi-finals of the Africa Open Championships in Egypt.

The Kenya Defense Forces Sergeant is among 12 players from Africa who will participate in judo at the Games.

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