Nairobi — Kenyan sprinter Zablon Ekwam says he’s beneath no stress forward of his maiden look on the Olympic Video games, and says his focus is solely on operating race and executing his type effectively.
Ekwam, 26, certified for his first ever Olympic Video games after clocking 44.69 to complete fourth on the Kip Keino Traditional 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 really 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 but it surely 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 stated.
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 fine condition heading to Paris.
“Cameroon was very hectic for me and a lot of the Kenyan athletes so we can not even use it to gauge ourselves. In the intervening time, I’ve simply been attempting to get my physique in fine condition and polish by way of velocity and endurance,” Ekwam additional stated.
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.
Join free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the most recent in African information delivered straight to your inbox
Hoping to execute effectively
“I’m simply going there to execute effectively and see how briskly we will go and which doorways we will open. I’m not going there with any stress. My ambition is to do my finest. There isn’t any 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 stage of preparedness forward of the Olympics.
“In the intervening time with just 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 must do heading to the Olympics,” he famous.
After his two races, Ekwam will report back to Group Kenya’s residential camp in Miramas, South of France, to agency up his preparations additional.