Korir: Politics played no part with Olympics nod

Having finished fourth at the 2016 Boston Marathon, Cherang’any Member of Parliament (MP) Wesley Korir, did not expect to make the Kenyan team for the Rio Summer Olympics.

However, following fervent speculation, Athletics Kenya (AK) named him among the three first choices to run at the August carnival in Brazil alongside London and New York champions, Eliud Kipchoge and Stanley Biwott on Wednesday.

“It came as a surprise to me knowing that Kenya has a lot of talent and being named is an honuor to me but also, I think I have proven myself by running well at the Boston Marathon this year. It showed the selection panel that I can run and compete at the highest level,” said the man who will make history as the first sitting parliamentarian to run at the biggest sporting carnival in the planet.

The 33 year-old father of three assumed office in 2013 as an MP as the reigning Boston champion but since then, he has not been able to reclaim his title as he juggles the ardours life of representing his people and training in a nation where politicians hold large sway.

He finished fifth by clocking 2:12.30 in the 2013 edition, a position he maintained until April when he ran 2:14:05 to follow the Ethiopian clean-sweep of Hayle Lemi (2:12:45), Lelisa Desisa (2:13:52) and Yemane Adhane (2:14:02) as the best placed Kenyan.

“For the last four years, I have been a Member of Parliament and also competed professionally and it has trained me to be disciplined and learn how to balance everything well.

“It’s actually easy to fit in Parliament’s schedule because we only go thrice a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday then I travel back to Eldoret and continue with the most crucial training sessions like long runs and speed work,” the Cherangany legislator told Citizen Digital a day after his shock confirmation in the squad.

His selection has ignited local and international debate with some terming it as an attempt to romanticise the squad knowing all attention will be focused on a running MP.

Others have suggested his inclusion is to placate the anti-establishment group of athletes allied to the Proffesional Athletes Association of Kenya (PAAK) where he serves as the spokesperson but Korir insists he was chosen on merit.

“For those who think that there was political influence in my selection to the team, I shall prove them wrong though that’s their opinion and everyone is entitled to theirs. I feel after my performance in Boston I deserve the chance.

“Otherwise it’s a great honour to be in the same team with Kipchoge and Biwott who are my close friends. I often train with Kipchoge, and as a leader. It’s my duty to lead from the front and not from behind and that’s what I shall do.”

He terms his inclusion as a chance to prove himself and offers him a golden opportunity to complete what would be one of sports most enduring fairy tales should he win Kenya’s second Olympics marathon gold.

“When we shall be nearing Olympics I shall write to the Speaker of the National Assembly to give me a couple of weeks off so that I focus more on Rio,” Korir revealed, underscoring his willingness to for go the handsome sitting and mileage allowances Kenyan parliamentarians are paid for legislative duties.

Parliament will go on recess on June 6 affording him more time to focus on training and Korir is currently at Eldoret preparing to do rabbit duties for his wife, Canadian Tarah McKay at the Ottawa Marathon where she is hopeful of making her country’s team for Rio.

-Canadian wife-

“If my wife and I both make to represent our countries at the Olympics it will be a dream come true for us as a family. It has been our dream since we met in college,” the legislator mused on what would be a prospective headline breaker in Brazil were it to pass.

“When I won the Boston marathon 2012, I expected to be picked for the 2012 Olympics team but I wasn’t selected. Unfortunately my wife too did not make it for the Canadian team.

“This year we both started with a dream to make it for the Olympics. I have already made it to the team and now focus is on my wife whom I shall continue pace making for her until she makes the team too,” Korir added.

Korir prefers running in hot weather and is confident that conditions in Brazil will favour an athlete of his mould.

“Rio weather is perfect for me and that is a plus on my side since have won in hot weather in Boston and that’s an advantage for me,” he added.

Korir paced himself and won the 2012 Boston edition in 2:12.40 hence he is confident of about his performance in Rio.

“All the races that have won did not have pace makers and that is an advantage on my side. When you look at Olympics it does not have pace makers too. My teammates in Rio; Eliud and Biwott are younger than I and have ran more races with pacemakers but I have the necessary experience,” he held.

“If I win a Gold Medal I shall dedicate it to the people of Cherangany. During my campaigns I told them that I will not only represent them in Parliament but also all over the world and that is a promise I intend to keep. I shall also use the opportunity to help raise money for my foundation so that I can continue helping the needy child who needs me,” the running MP asserted.