By Amy Tennery
PARIS (Reuters) – Kenyan Hellen Obiri believes she has what it takes to go from silver to gold at the Paris Games, tackling the Olympic marathon after two second-place finishes in the 5,000 metres.
Obiri made a name for herself on the track with two world championship 5,000m titles but has had no problem switching to an endurance mindset, winning twice in Boston and once in New York since making her marathon debut in 2022.
“I know Paris, it will be a tough course but winning those two marathons, it gives me a lot of hope, a lot of confidence and a lot of excitement,” she told Reuters.
Obiri, 34, faces stiff competition in Paris, including from defending champion Peres Jepchirchir who made history when she won the New York City Marathon weeks after taking gold in Tokyo. She has also topped the podium in London and Boston.
Obiri, however, is undaunted as she prepares to tackle a marathon course designed to trace one of the pivotal historic events of the French Revolution in 1789.
“I’m so happy to go to Paris as a marathoner… I do believe the marathon is my best event in Olympics,” said Obiri, who also picked up silver in the 10,000 at the 2022 worlds.
“I do believe I will do much better than the other events I’ve been doing.”
Obiri is embracing her growing celebrity in Paris, celebrating the release on YouTube of a short film “The Heart to Race” which details her personal journey as an athlete, produced by sponsor and Swiss sportswear brand On.
“It’s most encouraging to young generations, to young people in sports,” she said. “Where you come from – it doesn’t matter.”
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in Paris, editing by Ed Osmond)
