My dream is to win Kenya’s first ever 10,000m Olympic Gold – Agnes Ngetich

Kenyan actress Lupita Nyong’o once stated “No matter where you are from, your dreams are valid” and many people have used her advice as motivation towards their endeavors.

One such individual is Kenyan fast-rising runner Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who despite coming from a humble background, is making a name for herself in the competitive athletics industry. 

Ngetich recently broke the 10km world record spectacularly in her first race of the 2024 season.

The Iten-based runner shaved 28 seconds from the previous world record that was held by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw when she crossed the finishing line in 28:46 at the Spanish-based 10K Valencia Ibercaja Road race on Sunday, January 14.

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The impressive time also made Ngetich enter into history books as the first-ever female athlete to complete the 10km race in under 29 minutes.

Two weeks after shocking the entire universe with the dominant display, Ngetich has disclosed that she has dreams of winning the elusive 10,000m Gold medal for Kenya in the eagerly anticipated 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

However, she has a huge task ahead of her since Kenya has never won a gold medal over the distance since the country's maiden appearance at the Olympic Games in 1956.

Celebrated runners like Vivian Cheruiyot, and Hellen Obiri tried their best to clinch the title but their efforts failed to bear any fruits.

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Now both of them have switched from track and field to road races, leaving the task of delivering the coveted gold medal to the likes of Ngetich, Emmaculate Anyango and Beatrice Chebet.

In an exclusive interview with SportPesa News, a confident Ngetich stated that she will give her all to bring the medal home.

“If we keep healthy and focus, everything is possible. The Paris Olympics is my main aim this year and I will do my best to bring home that medal,” she commented.

When asked whether she plans to compete in another race in the games which is scheduled to start on Friday, July 26, Ngetich stated that her centre of attention is only on the 10,000m discipline.

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The runner, who studied at Kapkenda Girls High School in form one and two before proceeding to Kimwogo Secondary school, ended by divulging that she is also hoping to participate in the 2024 World Athletics Cross Country Championships.

According to the 23-year-old, she also wants to register a podium-place finish in the championships which is expected to be held in Belgrade, Serbia on Saturday, March 30.

Women’s 10,000m results in the past four Olympic Games edition

Delayed 2020 Tokyo edition

Gold - Sifan Hassan – 29:55.32 (Netherlands)

Silver - Kalkidan Gezahegne – 29:56.18 (Bahrain)

Bronze - Letesenbet Gidey – 30:01.72 (Ethiopia)

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2016 Rio de Janeiro edition

Gold – Almaz Ayana – 29:17.45 (Ethiopia)

Silver – Vivian Cheruiyot – 29:32.53 (Kenya)

Bronze – Tirunesh Dibaba – 30:13.17 (Ethiopia)

2012 London edition

Gold – Tirunesh Dibaba – 30:20.75 (Ethiopia)

Silver – Vivian Cheruiyot – 30:26.37 (Kenya)

Bronze – Sally Kipyego – 30:30.44 (Kenya)

2008 Beijing edition

Gold – Tirunesh Dibaba – 29:54.66 (Ethiopia)

Silver – Shalane Flanagan – 30:22.22 (United States)

Bronze – Linet Masai – 30:26.50 (Kenya)

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