Get to bottom of Olympics debacle, coach Kirwa calls
Team Kenya athletics head coach Julius Kirwa on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Rio Olympic Games on Friday. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Kirwa said although Kenya gave their best show at the Olympics, winning 13 medals, they could have done better if athletes and coaches were treated with dignity.
- He said it was wrong to send sprinters to the Games without their coaches.
- He said 200m sprinter Carvin Nkanata’s accreditation at the last minute put the National Olympic Committee of Kenya on the spot.
- Kirwa said Kenya’s poor performance in the men’s 5,000m and women’s 800m need to be addressed.
Team Kenya athletics head coach Julius Kirwa wants the managerial fiasco at the just-concluded Rio Olympic Games addressed conclusively.
Kirwa said although Kenya gave their best performance ever at the Olympics, winning 13 medals (six gold, six silver and one bronze), they could have done better if the athletes and coaches were treated with dignity.
The coach, who spoke on arrival from Rio on Friday night, said his charges were patriotic, they put their woes behind them and won glory for the nation.
He said it was wrong to send sprinters to the Games without their coaches.
“I don’t understand why Julius Yego (World javelin champion) chaperone Catherine Ndereba and coach John Anzrah missed tickets and accommodation at the athletes’ village. It’s clear that something went wrong,” said Kirwa.
CONCEALED INJURIES
Kirwa called for a coaches’ forum to review the Rio Olympics. He said 200m sprinter Carvin Nkanata’s accreditation at the last minute put the National Olympic Committee of Kenya on the spot.
Kirwa said Kenya’s poor performance in the men’s 5,000m and women’s 800m need to be addressed. For the first time in five decades, Kenya failed to qualify for the men’s 5,000m final.
“The women’s 5,000m race was the toughest to plan. I thank God Vivian Cheruiyot, Hellen Obiri and Mercy Cherono stuck to instruction,” said Kirwa.
Cheruiyot stunned World champion Almaz Ayana to win gold in an Olympic record time of 14:26.17, Obiri bagged silver.
“Faith Chepng’etich 1,500m gold simply drove many to tears,” he said.
Kirwa exonerated World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop from blame after finishing sixth. He said it was unfortunate some athletes concealed injuries, which saw Kenya perform poorly in men’s 5,000m and 10,000m races.
