Hellen Obiri, the reigning Boston Marathon champion, expressed immense joy and pride after securing a bronze medal in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. Despite facing numerous challenges during the race, Obiri described her bronze medal as feeling just as valuable as gold. Her achievement was particularly significant given the hurdles she overcame, both before and during the marathon, to secure a spot on the podium.
Obiri finished the marathon behind Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won the race with an Olympic record time of 2:22:55, and Ethiopian Tigst Assefa, who took the silver with a time of 2:22:58. Obiri, who clocked a personal best time of 2:23:10, had to contend with adversity along the course, including two falls at the water stations. Despite these setbacks, she found the strength to push through and secure the third-place finish, a feat that she described as incredibly rewarding.
Reflecting on the race, Obiri revealed that the marathon was one of the most challenging experiences of her athletic career. With just four kilometers left in the race, she almost considered giving up due to the physical and mental toll. However, her determination to bring home a medal for Kenya kept her going. “This bronze feels like a gold to me,” Obiri said, highlighting the resilience and perseverance that guided her through the final stages of the race.
Obiri’s journey to the Paris Olympics was not without its difficulties. She suffered a significant injury during the Boston Marathon earlier in the year, which impacted her training and preparation for the Olympics. With less than six weeks of long training sessions available to her, Obiri had to rely on the expertise of her doctors and her own self-belief to recover and prepare for the Olympic marathon. “I had a bad injury at the Boston Marathon, but I kept on trusting the doctors. I had less than six weeks on long training sessions. I told myself I am the best, and so I gave my best,” she explained.
The marathon course in Paris presented additional challenges that Obiri had not fully anticipated. She described how certain sections of the course were unexpectedly tough, particularly around the 27-kilometer mark, where she felt her legs were no longer moving as they should. However, the prospect of a downhill stretch ahead kept her motivated to continue pushing forward. “At 27 kilometers, it was so tough for me. My legs were not moving. But I told myself, ‘After this, we have a downhill,'” Obiri recalled.
Obiri’s performance in Paris was a testament to her strength and determination, qualities that have defined her illustrious career. Her teammate, Sharon Lokedi, who finished just behind Obiri with a personal best time of 2:23:14, praised her for the inspiring performance. Lokedi revealed that she was silently cheering Obiri on during the final stretch of the race, hoping that her teammate would secure a medal for Kenya. “I am proud of her performance. I hoped to be in the top three, but I knew it was going to be tough in the last few kilometers,” Lokedi said. “I kept thinking, ‘I hope she goes.’ I just wanted that medal to go home.”
Lokedi also expressed her concerns when Obiri fell twice during the race, describing the falls as hard and the water stations as small and risky. “I felt bad when she fell, twice. It was a hard fall. The water stations were small and very risky. I hope she is fine,” Lokedi added.
Following the marathon, Obiri plans to take some time to recover before refocusing on future big-city marathons. She also reflected on the benefits of relocating to the United States, which she believes has positively impacted her training, diet, and overall approach to the sport. “It helped me know what I am supposed to do in terms of training, diet, gym, and physiotherapy,” Obiri said.
Obiri’s bronze medal in Paris adds to her impressive list of accomplishments and serves as a reminder of her resilience and determination as an elite athlete. As she looks ahead to future competitions, her performance at the Paris Olympics will undoubtedly inspire both her and her fans as she continues to pursue excellence in the sport of marathon running.
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