Kipsiro vows to redeem himself with Olympic medal

Apr 02, 2012

MOSES Kipsiro finished a miserable seventh at the just concluded World Indoor Championship but that has not killed his determination for a podium finish at the Olympics.

By James Bakama

MOSES Kipsiro finished a miserable seventh at the just concluded World Indoor Championship but that has not killed his determination for a podium finish at the Olympics.

“My performance in Istanbul should not be a basis for judging me ahead of the London games,” said the 2010 double Commonwealth Games gold medalist.

He attributed his poor show to lack of experience on the indoor track. “I was only making my second indoor appearance my first having been only a month earlier in Birmingham.”

But the 2007 world outdoor bronze medalist has assured Ugandans he will win a medal at the London Olympics.

Top of his priorities now is speed work. “That is an area I am going to work on,” noted Kipsiro.

Kipsiro’s poor show in Istanbul also had a lot to do with bad strategy. “We got it wrong with manager Riccky Simms by opting for a slow start. By the time I realized that this was all about sprinting, it was too late.”

USA’s Benard Lagat won the race in 7 minutes 41.44 seconds. Kipsiro, who returned to Kapchorwa yesterday, clocked 7:44.59.

Kipsiro is one of 12 Ugandans in the medium and long distance who have already hit the London mark.

It was the first time in over a year that Kipsiro, a double Commonwealth Games gold medalist, was making an appearance on the world stage.

He battled malaria and typhoid for most of last season, missing the world outdoor championships in Daegu, South Korea.

He however made a triumphant return to the track in September by winning the 5000 All Africa Games gold in Mozambique.

Quarter miler Davis Kamoga, winner of a bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, was the last Ugandan to win an Olympic medal.

 

 

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