Kenyan long-distance runner Daniel Mateiko aims to bring the Olympic Men’s 10,000m title back to Kenya for the first time in 56 years.
The 25-year-old athlete hopes to end Kenya’s long wait for gold in this event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Mateiko is part of the famous NN Running Team and has impressive personal records: 13:13.45 for the 5000m, 26:50.81 for the 10,000m, 29:03 for the 10km road race, and 58:26 for the half marathon.
His hard work and excellent performances make him a strong contender for the gold medal.
The last Kenyan to win the Olympic Men’s 10,000m title was Naftali Temu in 1968 at the Mexico City Games. Since then, Ethiopian runners have dominated this event, winning six of the last 13 Olympic titles, including Selemon Barega’s victory at Tokyo 2020.
Daniel Mateiko( image Source X)
Kenya has come close to winning again, with Paul Tergat winning silver medals in 1996 and 2000, losing both times to Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie. Now, Mateiko hopes to break this streak and bring glory back to Kenya.
Mateiko trains with top athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kamworor, which he believes prepares him well for the challenge. “I believe my preparation will be good, and I have no plans to change my training.
I hope to do my best,” said Mateiko. “Training with great athletes like Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kamworor has taught me many tactics and resilience.”
Mateiko’s journey to the Olympics has been full of determination and hard work. He secured his spot on the Olympic team by running a world-leading time in the 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA, in late May. “I felt so good.
It was my dream to represent Kenya in the Olympic Games, and I got the opportunity. I thank God. I believe I’m going to do my best,” he said, especially after missing out on the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“Sometimes, I treat my challenges as a climbing ladder to the next level. I had self-confidence and believed in myself,” Mateiko added.
The Men’s 10,000m final will be held at the Stade de France on the evening of Friday, August 2. As Mateiko prepares for this significant event, the world will be watching, hoping to see history in the making.
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