This archive report was first published on 6 November 2019.
Benjamin Kigen, the 26-year-old steeplechase champion, is on a mission to conquer the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The athlete, who won gold in the Military World Games, believes his recent performance in Wuhan, China, will propel him to success in Tokyo.
On October 1, 2019, Kigen competed in the Men's 3000m steeplechase race heats at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, alongside Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto. However, he missed out on the medals but bounced back strongly to win the gold in Wuhan.
“Wuhan was a real inspiration for me. To win Kenya gold in China was a bonus, but it ignited a hunger in me that needs to be satisfied by winning at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020,” said Kigen.
With a personal best of 8:05.12 in the water and hurdle race from his show in July during the Monaco Diamond League, Kigen is confident of his abilities. In Wuhan, he clocked 8:24.50 to beat Algeria’s Bilal Tabti (8:28.71) and Frenchman Yoann Kowal (8:29.72) in the final.
However, Kigen is aware that he needs to be running consistently and clock faster times below the eight-minute mark if he is to make an impact and challenge World and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
His coach Isaac Rono believes Kigen will overcome his challenges ahead of the Olympic Games Kenya team trials that will take place in Eldoret in May. “He can run faster and get better performances,” said Rono.
