Reigning World 800m champion Mary Moraa reckons she is in perfect mood and shape to dance to the winner's podium at the Paris 2024 Olympics in August.
In an exclusive interview, Moraa said her sublime execution at the Doha Diamond League on Friday attested to her aptitude to tuck away the two-lap race title in the French capital.
The 'Kisii Express' vowed to unleash a tactical masterclass in the women's 800m with sights firmly trained on the coveted gold medal.
Moraa, 23, is convinced she possesses the mojo to cap off her glittering career with the coveted Olympic medal, the only major title yet to garnish her impressive trophy cabinet.
"I've been training extremely hard to win races and my target is to set the mood for a conquest in Paris come August," Moraa stated.
"It has always been my dream to win an Olympic gold medal and I feel motivated to do so in Paris," she added.
She disclosed her plans to use the 600m race at the USTAF New York City Grand Prix to enhance her finishing prowess.
“I will also participate in the Diamond League in Eugene, USA, where I seek to further reduce my time. The idea is to polish my act for a podium finish in Paris,” Moraa said.
She hopes to replicate her masterstroke execution in Budapest last year, where she stunned Olympic champion Athing Mu and Keely Hodgkinson to blaze to her first world title.
"I'm in the mood for an Olympic victory and I feel very much ready for the task ahead. I'm ready to make the country proud again after doing so in Budapest earlier," Moraa remarked.
After setting her season in motion with magnum opus performances at the African Games and Kip Keino Classic, Moraa was in a class of her own again in Doha, where she annihilated the field to breast the tape in a season-best time of 1:57.91.
This surpassed her previous season-best of 1:57.96, set at the Kip Keino Classic on April 20. She hailed her fans for rallying behind her, promising to unpack more gifts for them in the coming days.
"I've been practicing a lot lately and I am ready to make Kenya proud," Moraa stated.
"I had an amazing performance in the preceding season and this has given me the confidence to pursue my lifetime dream," Moraa remarked.
Born on June 15, 2000, Moraa surmounted the monstrosities presented by life to fulfill her pursuits.
She grew up in the care of her grandparents in Kisii after being orphaned at the tender age of two years, funding much of her education with sports scholarships.
A 400-meter specialist until 2021, Moraa made her international debut at the World Under-18 Championships in Nairobi and clinched the silver medal in the event with a personal best time of 53.31 seconds.
She made a giant leap to the 800 meters in 2020 and hoisted the nation's flag at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, crashing out in the semi-finals.
