After Doha heroics, Obiri now wants Olympics gold

Fresh from defending her 5,000m crown in the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha Qatar, Hellen Obiri has trained her focus on upgrading her 2016 silver medal to gold in next year’s Olympic Games slated for Tokyo Japan.

Obiri, however, seems less bothered by her failure to impress in the 10,000m race in Doha, saying that she will fire another shot in the race come next year.

Speaking to Citizen Digital at the Jomo Kenyatta International Ai rport on her return from Qatar, Obiri said she will focus on one event as she aims to deliver her first gold medal at the Olympic Games.

“I’m thinking of concentrating on one event and deliver gold on that front because it is the only major title missing in my career.

“At the moment I’m calculating on getting gold. Doubling could come with its fair share of risks since I could go there and with silver on both events, an outcome that I don’t want.

Chances are I could only focus only on 10,000m and see what becomes of it,” she said.

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The 29-year old will however wait until after the Tokyo games to decide on whether to turn to road running.

“After 2020, I don’t know what will follow because I’m a family woman. I could consider exploring other ideas as well as focusing on my family,” she offered.

She dedicated her victory in Doha to her family and management, saying they have been instrumental to her achievements so far.

Once again, she had to count on their support to shake off her shortcomings in her maiden appearance at the 10,000m race on September 28 when she failed to make even a last podium finish.

“My family has been pivotal to my career. My father and my husband advise me a lot. For instance, when I decided to do 10,000m, I thought of withdrawing from 5,000m, but they encouraged me to continue participating in it since they know it’s where my strength lies so far.

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olympics Hellen Obiri Doha gold

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