This archive report was first published on 3 October 2019.
Published on October 3, 2019, Samuel Gathimba, a 32-year-old athlete and 2018 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, is gearing up for the men's 20km race walk at the World Championships in Doha.
Gathimba, who is also the 2016 African race walk champion, spoke of his desire to win a medal on his first appearance at the global championships.
"It is my dream to do well here, and I have done enough training towards that end," Gathimba said.
He downplayed the possible effects that the hot weather in Doha could have on him, saying weather conditions will not be unique to him on the day of the race.
"I am sure we will all face similar weather conditions and so it is nothing unique to me," Gathimba told Nation Sport in Doha.
On the day of the race, Gathimba will tackle the course centred around the Doha Corniche, a waterfront palm-fringed boulevard that also features twin carriageway that extends in a horseshoe shape stretching over seven kilometres along the Doha Bay and the city's sea-front.
With a season best time of one hour, 19 minutes and four seconds, Gathimba faces 56 other athletes in the race, among them Heiki Takahashi from Japan who has a season best time of one hour, and 18.00 seconds, the fastest in the fields.
Sweden's Perseus Karlstrom has the second fastest time in the field of 1:18.07.
