Exclusive: Ronald Kwemoi Eyes Tokyo Double as He Plots World Championship Redemption

Paris Olympic Games 5,000m silver medalist Ronald Kwemoi has hinted at the possibility of pursuing double glory in the Tokyo World Athletics Championships, scheduled to run between September 13-21.

Kwemoi is one of the most versatile Kenyan track athletes, as he is a fierce competitor in the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m events, with the first two being his forte.

His revelation comes barely a week after the women's 10k record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich suggested that she will possibly be going for the 5,000m and 10,000m titles in Tokyo.

Kenyan middle-distance athletes have in recent years demonstrated an unprecedented hunger for medals in major championships by signing up for multiple events.

Beatrice Chebet stole the show during last year's Paris Games as she won the 5,000m and 10,000m titles, with her compatriot Faith Kipyegon retaining her 1,500m crown for the third time and topping it up with a silver medal in the 5,000m.

Kipyegon, Kenya's arguably the most successful track female athlete ran away with the 1,500m and 5,000m titles in the past World Championships hosted in Budapest, Hungary.

The 2022 Diamond League trophy winner Nicholas Kimeli also unsuccessfully attempted to claim the 5,000m and 10,000m crowns in Budapest in 2023.

KWEMOI GEARING FOR POSSIBLE DOUBLE IN TOKYO

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom.com, Kwemoi revealed that is he open to the idea of competing in both the 1,500m and 5,000m races in Tokyo.

The 2014 Commonwealth Games silver medalist says that, should the recurring hamstring injury give him a break, he will explore his ambition of joining the list of Kenyan athletes to have won more than a medal in a single championship.

The injury had forced Kwemoi off the radar for a significant period before his re-emergence in the Paris Games trials, where he atoned for the missed 10,000m ticket, in the Prefontaine Classic, with automatic qualification in the 5,000m.

The 28-year-old will settle for the 5,000m race, in the quest for the Tokyo ticket and championships, if he experiences slight discomfort in his irksome hamstring injury.

"There is a chance that I will do both events in Tokyo. If I do not experience injury setbacks, especially with my hamstring which has been bothering me a lot for some years, then I will be willing to contest in both races. It will be easier to forgo the 1,500m if I experience any discomfort in the build-up. The shorter race is nowadays more of a sprint unlike the 5,000m one," he told SportsBoom.com. 

WHY KWEMOI IS DESPERATE TO RACE IN TOKYO

Having clinched silver in Paris, the World U-20 1,500m record holder says he will be on a mission to right the wrongs that cost him a medal in Doha in 2019.

Kwemoi flew to Paris on a similar mission, and he is glad to have secured a medal in his second appearance at the Olympics.

He finished 13th in the 1,500m final at the 2016 Rio Olympics and was seventh in the 2019 World Championships in Qatar.

"I am determined to win a medal in the World Championships. I missed in my first attempt, but I am a believer in second chances. If I managed to do it in the Olympics, I can also do it in the World Championships."

Asked if he would compete in the 2025 Michael Johnson's Grand Slam Track, Kwemoi said he was yet to make up his mind, nor had he received the green light to participate.

"At the moment, I am not sure if I will participate. Maybe I will be fully informed from next month."

ROAD RACES CALLING

With Kwemoi approaching his sunset days on the track, he hopes to make a seamless transition into road race running just like scores of Kenyan athletes have done in the past. 

Kwemoi, picked the full marathon as his next destination after hanging up his spikes although, he did not open up on when he would bid farewell to track running. 

He says he will exit track running a satisfied athlete given his success in both the junior and senior levels. 

"I will definitely transition to marathon running in the future. We have witnessed athletes have successful careers both on the track and on the road, something which has been inspiring me to try my luck in the long distances. I would fancy running and winning a World Major," added Kwemoi. 

Kwemoi, however, called on the Kenyan government to safeguard the future of track running by investing in modern equipment and coaching.

"One of the reasons for the decline of Kenya's performances in middle-distance races is lack of facilities. We produce a lot of talent, but it is unfortunate that we do not have facilities to accommodates and develop them. This is one of the reasons we are witnessing young athletes joining road races early."