Why Obiri is confident of winning the women's marathon at the Olympics

Two-time Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri believes she possesses the mojo to thrust herself to the victor's podium at the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games. 

In an exclusive interview on Thursday, Obiri restated her desire for a masterstroke execution as she zealously eyes a maiden Olympic glory over the distance. 

The two-time women's 5000m world champion made the remarks a day after she was enrolled in the stellar eight-member Team Kenya ensemble for the premier quadrennial global showpiece slated for August.

Obiri said she felt delirious and privileged to have been included in the team, promising to animate the heart of the nation with a sublime performance in the French capital. 

"I'm happy to represent my motherland at the Games and I'll do my best to prove my worth in Team Kenya," Obiri remarked. 

"It won't be an entirely strange environment for me. I've participated in the Olympics before. The only difference is that I competed in track events so I'll be in a familiar territory," she added. 

Obiri echoed earlier sentiments made by her fellow athletes who underscored the essence of teamwork in Kenya's elevated aspirations for a podium sweep. 

"I agree with my teammates that teamwork will play a big role in Kenya's success at the Games. We have a set of great and brilliant athletes capable of garnering all the medals for the country in the Marathon," Obiri stated. 

She heads to the competition buoyed by an exquisite outing at the 2024 Boston Marathon in March where she stormed to her second successive title after breasting the tape in two hours, 22 minutes, and 37 seconds. 

“I believe I have what it takes to shine in Paris after successfully defending my title in Boston. It was not all that easy. Winning gave me a lot of hope for the next competition. Accomplishing a feat of such magnitude requires one to work extra hard,” she said. 

The 33-year-old Kenya Defence Forces sergeant hinted at the possibility of calling time on her stellar career on the track as she opts for a new and challenging adventure on the course. 

“I have mostly concentrated on the roads because my years have gone and I no longer have the same vigour required to assert authority on the track,” Obiri remarked.

Obiri's meteoric rise commenced in 2012 when she stormed the world indoor 3000m title. Titles, trophies, and medals have been flowing in her direction ever since and age doesn't seem to deter her resolve to remain at the apex of her game.

She twice blazed to the gold podium in the 5000m race during the 2017 and 2019 World Championships and bagged another gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

She prides herself on the 1500m bronze at the Moscow 2013 World Championships, the 3000m silver at the Sopot 2014 World Indoor Championships and the 3000m gold at the Istanbul 2012 World Indoor Championships.