Sunday Nation
Date: 22.01.2017
Page 46
Article size: 780 cm2
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Vivian hits the road after huge success
She once almost quit
track, but after recovering
to finally win the coveted
Olympic gold, Cheruiyot
now ready for marathon
BY AYUMBA AYODI
[email protected]
She almost considered quitting
track running after what she de­
scribes as the "worst moments"
of her athletics career, perennially
failing to clinch the big medals on the
global stage.
But her explosive performance at the
2011 World Championships in Daegu,
South Korea, where she claimed both
the 5,000 and 10,000 metres titles,
launched Vivian "Pocket Rocket"
Cheruiyot to stardom.
That year, the diminutive athlete was
declared the Kenyan Sports Personal­
ity of the Year.
Cheruiyot then went into the 2012
London Olympics a clear favourite,
especially in the 5,000m, but the star,
arguably the most decorated female
athlete in Kenya's history, would set­
tle for silver in the 5,000m and bronze
in the 10,000.
Ethiopian Meseret Defar won the
5,000m gold, her second after win­
ning the 2004 Athens title, while
compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba claimed
gold in 10,000m, also her second after
Beijing 2008.
who turned her silver in 10,000m at
the Rio Olympic Games to gold in the
5,000m.
Not only did Cheruiyot settle for the
Rio silver in a new national record time
of 29 minutes, 32.53 seconds, but she
also became the first Kenyan woman to
win the Olympic 5,000m title in a new
Olympic record time of 14:26.17.
"That was the best moment of my
athletics career so far, that I finally
got what was missing in my trophy
cabinet since I made my debut at
the Olympics in 2000.
FILE | NATION
"I had enjoyed most of the
Vivian Cherui­
moments on track but win­
yot celebrates
ning that coveted gold shall
forever be engraved in my
her silver
medal after the
heart."
10,000 metres
Nobody had given
Kenyans a chance in the
5,000m, especially after
in­form Almaz Ayana
won the 10,000m in a
during the Rio
Olympic Games
in Rio de
Janeiro on Au­
new worlds record time
gust 12, 2016.
of 29:17.45, breaking
the previous mark of
29:31.78 by China's
Wang Junxia that had
stood for 24 years.
"One person who
She recovered
to win gold in
the 5,000m.
had the heart of a
lioness is (silver
medallist Hellen)
Obiri, who instilled
bravery in us and it
worked."
Cheruiyot and
Obiri would assist
each other as they
all overtook Ayana
for a 1­2 finish.
'A trick on me'
Reflecting in an interview with
Sunday Nation Sport's Big Interview
last Friday, Cheruiyot said she could
not comprehend what happened in the
5,000m final in London as she was in
great shape.
"My focus was on Dibaba, whom I
thought had a better kick than Defar,
and I was surprised when Defar passed
me during the race," said Cheruiyot.
"That is why I didn't react when
Defar went ahead, leaving Dibaba be­
hind. It was perhaps a trick on me."
Defar went on to win after Cherui­
yot's kick fell short as Dibaba settled
for bronze.
A frustrated and dejected Cheruiyot
was inconsolable.
"I cried for almost two weeks and I
even thought of leaving track to road
racing... I was in my best form ever
and I failed to understand why," said
Cheruiyot, 33, as she recounted her
athletics journey after being crowned
2016 Kenyan Sports Personality of the
Year at the Kenyatta International Con­
vention Centre during last Thursday's
Safaricom Sports Personality of the
Year Awards.
Cheruiyot's coach and
husband Kiplagat Kurui
and manager Ricky Simms
were at hand to encourage
and support the distance
running star, convincing her
that all was not lost.
"I had to tell myself that there
is always next time," said Cheruiyot,
"I had faced her
compatriots Dibaba
and Meseret, but
Ayana was just too
strong. I just had
to look around just to
5,000m, His Rio marathon victory is
great motivation."
Inspired by the likes of former world
10,000m champion Sally Barsosio and
two­time world marathon champion
Catherine Ndereba, Cheruiyot took up
athletics while at Chemwabul Primary­
School in Elgeyo­Marakwet County.
She credits her success to Kurui,
Simms and her previous coach David
Kimaiyo, who discovered her talent at
"My parents have also been a source
of inspiration, having provided all that
I need for competitions."
But Cheruiyot is worried that few­
athletes are coming through the ranks
and wants the government and Ath­
letics Kenya to put up training camps
across the country to tap talent.
"We have the same athletes compet­
ing in 10,000m with no new ones. We
need to go beyond Iten and Eldoret for
Chemwabul.
talent search."
Maiyo took her under his care,
entering her in the national trials for
the 1997 World Cross Country Cham­
pionships.
Cheruiyot advises upcoming athletes
to embrace track first before moving
to road running as most athletes who
went straight to road races "haven't
lasted for long."
"They should also desist from tak­
ing short­cuts by using illegal drugs.
confirm after I had crossed
the line."
Cheruiyot has since moved on and
quit track, focusing on her marathon
debut in London on April 23.
I'm a clear manifestation on how
staying clean and natural can do to
"I want to break the world marathon
an athlete."
Cheruiyot also plans to set up a train­
ing camp where she will help groom
young athletes.
Her husband Kurui, who took over
as coach in 2006, describes her as "a
record one day before I retire. Another
Olympic gold in the marathon should
crown it all, God willing."
Even though it will be treacher­
ous since training sessions will be
longer, Cheruiyot hopes that the
wonderful athlete and wife."
"She has been a good student,
listener and never complains on
something that she knows will
be good for her," he says.
"The chemistry between
me and Cheruiyot as coach
and athlete has really helped
us in training.
transition will be smooth as she
aims to emulate Olympic marathon
champion Eliud Kipchoge, the former
world 5,000m champion who is now
among the world's most sought­after
marathon runners.
"Kipchoge never lost hope
even after failing to win
an Olympic gold in the
"We see ourselves as
partners in athletics as
we aspire to achieve
something good," says
Kurui, who believes
Cheruiyot's transition
JARED'NYATAYA& CHRIS OMOLLO I
NATION
Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot
takes a stroll after a training
session at the Moi University in
Eldoret; Right: with the 2016
Sports Personality of the Year
Award trophy last Thursday at
the KICC, Nairobi.
to the marathon will
succeed.
The couple, who have a
son, Allan, born in 2013, live
in Kaptagat and have interests in real
estate, farming and transport busi­
­ "" " 4\.
Ipsos Kenya ­ Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road ­ Lavington ­ Nairobi ­ Kenya
nesses in Eldoret and Nairobi.