Kemboi steals the show as part of Team Kenya returns home

Amid pomp and colour that greeted the second batch of Team Kenya from Rio 2016 Olympics at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Friday night, men 3000m steeplechase legend, Ezekiel Kemboi stood out emphasizing his power of appeal.

The two-time Olympics and four-time world champion, was not returning home with the crowning glory of a third gold but ever the showman, he was the first to step out, saluting fans, officials, dancers, journalists and political leaders who were at the airport to receive the team.

As soon as he shook hands with Uasin Gishu County Governor; Jackson Mandago and his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart, Alex Tolgos the three-time Worlds silver medallist said he had unfinished business having seen his Rio 2016 end in the anti-climax of a disqualification.

Having been beaten to the title by his designated successor, Conseslus Kipruto, Kemboi saw his fourth Olympics end in disgrace after he was stripped off the bronze medal for lane violation after France launched a successful appeal.

In essence, the incident sparked new life into his legend, casting a sense of injustice that saw him come out of retirement barely 24 hours after announcing he had brought an end to the career of the most decorated steeplechaser in history at the bowels of the Joao Havelange Stadium in Rio.

At JKIA, gone was the unusual hair do that mimicked a balding middle aged man to fit perfectly with the narrative of his ‘Baba Yao‘ (The Father) persona he cultivated as he plotted to go out in a blaze of glory that was not to be.

“I am thankful to all Kenyans for their support and and even for the warm welcome here. I was ready to retire after winning the bronze but we were denied. The IAAF rules stipulate that one can only be disqualified after stepping out of the track three times.

“Personally I stepped out only once after being pushed but they didn’t want to consider that. The ruling was made on basis of coluor,” he alleged as he painted himself as a victim of racism after France’s Mekhissi Benabbad who finished way behind him across the line was elevated to bronze having won silver at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games.

“I reaffirm I have not retired, I will retire when the Kenya national anthem being sang on the podium (in his honour). I will not appeal this case, I will appeal at the 2017 World Championships in London as defending champion,” the 34 year-old charged.

He however, admitted time has come for the new Olympics champion Conseslus to shine, after his word record win of 8:03.28 in Rio advising him not to rest in his laurels.

“The boy is running well, but he has long way to go. I have represented Kenya for more than 16 years and won Olympic gold twice and four World Championships. He has just started and has work to do to maintain the tempo. I advise him to keep on working hard to reach the heights of Kemboi,” he added.

On the weird haircut he rocked in the finals day, Kemboi, a police officer in the Presidential Escort Unit, tasked with the security of Head of State, Uhuru Kenyatta, revealed it was intended to signal his career end.

“I shaved that way to signify a balding man ready to pass on the baton, but after the decision to give the medal to the French guy, I will return to London to prove to them I’m still energetic and they were wrong in denying me the honour.”

-Paying tribute-

He paid tribute to the athletics class of 2016 that has already trumped London 2012 where they won only two gold medals.

“We are better this time round. Having bagged four gold medals already tells it all. In 2012 only David Rudisha and I managed. I expect three more so we could finish with seven.”

Tolgos congratulated the athletes saying the performance so far was beyond expectations.

“I am proud of this team and that’s why we are here. They have overcome the negative image that was being imposed on them especially with doping claims to challenge the finest on the globe,” the County boss underscored.

His colleague Mandago felt better payment to the athletes by Government  is not enough to stop Kenyan born athletes defecting to other nations.

“Like in the case of Ruth Jebet who won Bahrain gold, in our tradition we cry with one eye. It’s a whole paradox to explain because she is still our daughter. But, we can have better rules governing how we export our talent like it happens in football.

“However, we can still do better as a Government in how we pay and reward them. They are our best ambassadors out there,” the Governor whose Country footed the entire costs of the Team Kenya training camp in Eldoret stressed.

Nandi also met the expenses of the men and women rugby sevens sides that set up base in the region.

Jemimah Sumgong who made history last Sunday as the first Kenyan female Olympics marathon winner was the only medallist from Rio 2016 who returned home eager to be part of a huge party being organised by family and her employers, Kenya Defence Forces, to toast her pioneering achievement.

Her husband, Noah Sumgong and daughter, Shallegyne Jemutai were on hand to receive their matriarch who broke the frontiers in Brazil after holding off neighbour and Kenyan-born Bahraini, Eunice Kirwa, for the gold.