Olympic Marathon champ Jepchirchir eyes next edition in France.
Kenya’s Olympic Marathon Champion Peres Jepchirchir is hoping to be among athletes that will again compete at the next Olympics in France.
The 27 year old who insisted that the Marathon has been very beneficial to her in terms of speed equally vowed not to join the league of athletes that renounce their citizenship.
“I will not quit marathon because it helps me with speed. I wish to relax and see how the body will respond before I can think of something else.”
“I wish to be among those representing the country at the next Olympics,” she enthused
Amidst the rising cases of Kenyan athletes seeking solace abroad after missing out on opportunities back home, the 2020 Olympic Games star insists her allegiance to her motherland remains firm.
“I’m loyal to my country. I can’t be convinced to change my citizenship with money. We have so many Kenyans who represented other countries but never made it at the Olympics,” said Jepchirchir, who arrived in the country on Saturday morning before being accorded a rapturous welcome in her home in Eldoret.
“Some people change their citizenship to other countries so that they can get a chance to participate in the Olympics because, as you know, Kenya is highly competitive,” she said.
Jepchirchir led a 1-2 Kenyan sweep in the women’s marathon. Her compatriot, Brigid Kosgei, emerged second while American Molly Seidel bagged the bronze medal.
“It had always been my dream to compete at the Olympics. It was unbelievable. I wasn’t expecting (to perform) because this was my first time. I didn’t expect to be the one to win gold,” said Jepchirchir.
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“My time wasn’t good enough because the weather affected my speed. I wish to improve on my personal time to 2 hours, 15 minutes because the current record is at 2 hours, 14 minutes.”
Jepchirchir clocked 2 hours, 27 minutes, 20 seconds, 10 minutes off her personal best.
“Because I had already run 2 hours, 23 minutes, my prayer was to run 2 hours, 17 minutes and then 2 hours, 15 minutes,” she said