This archive report was first published on 28 November 2019.
At the pinnacle of international athletics, Kenyan runner Timothy Cheruiyot knows that one man stands between him and gold: his best friend Elijah Manangoi.
Cheruiyot, 24, trains alongside Manangoi, 26, who was the 1,500 meters world champion until Cheruiyot took the title this year.
Coach Bernard Ouma praises the pair's 'sibling rivalry', citing Manangoi's speed and Cheruiyot's endurance as key factors driving their success.
“Tim is working extra-hard to catch up with him. And this is putting Elijah on his toes – ‘ah! This young boy should not catch up with me!’” coach Ouma said, channeling his elder protege.
Cheruiyot's rise to the top began in 2017, when he took silver 38 seconds behind Manangoi at the 1,500 meters world championships.
“My toughest athlete (has been) my partner Manangoi … I love how he trains,” Cheruiyot said at his training camp at the Rongai Athletics Club, located on the outskirts of Nairobi.
Cheruiyot's success continued this year, as he won the Diamond League trophy for the third time in a row and took his first 1,500 meters world championships gold in Doha in October.
