I am going for nothing less than gold in Rio — Kiprotich
Sep 23, 2015
The reigning Olympic marathon champion and 2013 world champion, Stephen Kiprotich is targeting nothing less than gold at the 2016 Rio summer Olympics in Brazil.
By Johnson Were
The reigning Olympic marathon champion and 2013 world champion, Stephen Kiprotich is targeting nothing less than gold at the 2016 Rio summer Olympics in Brazil.
The 2012 London Summer Olympics and 2013 World Championships gold medalist, disclosed this in his speech during the Nile Special USPA dinner at Imperial Royale Hotel where athlete Solomon Mutai was crowned sportsman of the month of August.
“My body didn’t respond well to training when we went for the World Championships but wait next year, am going for gold,” Kiprotich stated.
“I believe in pushing others and I had confidence in Mutai, that is why I told him not to follow me but go on because the Kenyans and Ethiopians were focused on me and I’m happy he won a bronze,” Kiprotich added.
The distance runner added that he is confident Uganda is strong enough to end the Kenya dominance in the long races.
Mutai thanked USPA for honouring him and also vowed to go for gold in Rio.
“Once you are called on the team you expect a gold and God will decide,” Mutai stated.
The two athletes were escorted by their fiances at the dinner that was also attended by Africa seed one badminton star Edwin Ekiring.
To win the Nile Special USPA sports personality for the month of August, Mutai (500 points) defeated the Netball She Cranes (450).
The Assistant Commissioner of Sports in the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports Sam Odongo, who presided over the awards function, lauded USPA and Nile Special for motivating athletes through their monthly and annual recognition.
“As government we are not putting in enough because of a limited budget, but I thank USPA and Nile Special for motivating athletes,” he said.
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