Kosgei eyes Olympic gold medal
Kenyan star brushes off criticism over use of latest Nike shoes
Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei, the fastest-ever woman marathon runner, has set her sights on 2020’s Olympic Games, where a win will solidify her place among the greatest to have ever competed in the sport.
The 25-year old mother of twins smashed Briton Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old world record by 81 seconds at the Chicago Marathon in October, recording a time of two hours, 14 minutes and four seconds to cap a stunning rise to the sport’s summit for Kosgei, who started competing internationally only four years ago.
“When I went to compete [in Chicago] I did not think that I would break the record,” Kosgei said at an Athletics Kenya conference in the northwestern city of Eldoret.
“My aim was to break the course record [2:17:18].”
She does not feel any pressure now after her recordbreaking win or that she needs to restore some Kenyan pride over the distance where, despite producing great runners for decades, they have struggled to crack the Olympics and then been shamed.
Kosgei also dismissed critics who have said her record was unfairly aided by the use of the latest running shoes from Nike.
The shoes have carbon-fibre plates and a thicker midsole that the manufacturers claim improve running economy by 4% or 5%.
A version of the shoes is also worn by men’s marathon world-record holder Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, who the day before Kosgei’s Chicago win recorded an astonishing, paceraided 1:59:40 in Vienna.
“Shoes don’t run, it’s the feet that run,” Kosgei said.
“If you are not in shape and I use those shoes it won’t help.” —