Nairobi — Kenyan sprinter Zablon Ekwam says he’s below no stress forward of his maiden look on the Olympic Video games, and says his focus is solely on working race and executing his fashion nicely.
Ekwam, 26, certified for his first ever Olympic Video games after clocking 44.69 to complete fourth on the Kip Keino Basic in April, his ending time, which ranks as his lifetime finest, being sufficient to earn him a spot on the aircraft to Paris.
“I used to be truly stunned as a result of I had not deliberate to qualify at that occasion. For me, it was a large blessing. I needed to try to qualify this month however it got here sooner than anticipated. I’m very delighted to have certified as a result of it has been a very long time earlier than we had a Kenyan in that occasion on the Olympic Video games,” Ekwam mentioned.
Olympics a large platform
The previous nationwide champion believes the Olympics will supply him a large platform to open extra doorways for his profession, whilst he plans to grow to be a mainstay globally within the one-lap race.
Regardless of lacking out on a medal on the Africa Athletics Championships in Cameroon the place he completed fourth, Ekwam believes he’s in good condition heading to Paris.
“Cameroon was very hectic for me and a lot of the Kenyan athletes so we can’t even use it to gauge ourselves. In the meanwhile, I’ve simply been making an attempt to get my physique in good condition and polish when it comes to velocity and endurance,” Ekwam additional mentioned.
Waiting for the Olympics, Ekwam says he’s excited to race, and can’t put any stress on himself as he’s making his debut. Regardless of being the lone Kenyan within the race, he believes he can climate the storm.
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Hoping to execute nicely
“I’m simply going there to execute nicely and see how briskly we are able to go and which doorways we are able to open. I’m not going there with any stress. My ambition is to do my finest. There is no such thing as a stress being the lone Kenyan. It’s all about psychological power and I do know my capabilities,” he provides.
Ekwam could have two races in Belgium and Italy this coming week, which he says he’ll use to gauge his degree of preparedness forward of the Olympics.
“In the meanwhile with slightly below a month left, I can say I’m seven out of 10. The 2 races will assist me to gauge the place I’m and what I have to do heading to the Olympics,” he famous.
After his two races, Ekwam will report back to Workforce Kenya’s residential camp in Miramas, South of France, to agency up his preparations additional.
