Kenya's sole representative in the race walk, Samuel Gathimba will leverage on experience gained since the 2016 Olympics to secure a podium finish in Paris.
The African silver medallist failed to finish the 20km race in Rio 2016, where the Chinese duo of Zhen Wang (1:19:14) and Zelin Cai (1:19:26) clinched gold and silver respectively with Australia’s Dane Bird-Smith (1:19:37) settling for bronze.
In an interview, the 36-year-old attributed his past performance in 2016 to inexperience. "I am determined to make a strong comeback in Paris having taken part in numerous races since Rio 2016," he said.
“In Rio 2016, I lacked the experience to compete against the world’s best," Gathimba said.
"I’ve participated in numerous races since then and believe the experience I have gained from the races will help me attain my target of a podium finish. I’m confident I can achieve it,” he added.
Gathimba has since amassed a series of accolades, including a bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia (1:19:51), where he trailed England’s Tom Bosworth (1:19:38) and Australia’s Smith (1:19:38).
He clinched the 20km race walk title at the 2018 African Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, clocking 1:25:14, and secured the African title in 2019 in Rabat, Morocco, with a time of 1:22:48.
At the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, Gathimba placed fourth (1:19:25), narrowly missing out on the podium.
Sweden’s Perseus Karlstrom (1:19:18) and the Japanese duo of Koki Ikeda (1:19:14) and Toshikazu Yamanishi (1:19:07) secured the podium.
He placed ninth during last year’s edition in Budapest, Hungary, with a time of 1:18:34.
Earlier this year, he won silver at the African Games in Accra, Ghana (1:28:06), just behind Ethiopia’s Wakuma Misgana (1:28:05).
Alongside African champion in the women’s race walk Emily Ngii, they clocked 3:04:23 for second place at the Irish Marathon race walking mixed relay last month.
The Czech Republic’s Vit Hlavac and Eliska Martinkova (3:02:09) won the event.
Gathimba acknowledged the tough opposition that awaits him but remains adamant that he will not be a pushover.
"The Chinese and Japanese are tough competitors. But I know how to handle them. I won't be a pushover,” he stated.
China won two titles in 2012 London (Chen Ding – 1:18:46) and Rio 2016 while the Japanese duo of Yamanishi (1:21:18) and Ikeda (1:21:14) clinched bronze and silver respectively at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics behind Italy’s Massimo Stano (1:21:05).
Under the guidance of coach George Kariuki, Gathimba has intensified his training regimen, focusing on speed.
“I train for an hour each in the morning, noon, and afternoon, covering 15km each session. Mondays are for endurance, while Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are dedicated to speed work,” he explained.
The race walk event is set to kick-start the athletics schedule at the Olympics on August 1.
