SEB COE: Kenya’s Athletics Religion shows way forward Britain’s programme

Team GB had a disappointing Games in Tokyo, and they must learn some lessons from Kenya

Everywhere I venture, I’m reunited with some of the biggest names in the history of our sport who in many cases have undertaken volunteer roles.

Kenya had a relatively slow start to their Tokyo campaign but it all ended business as usual for this powerhouse of athletics.

But there is at the same time disbelief that for the first time in many years Kenya lost its vice-like grip in both the men’s and women’s steeplechase.

This event, like no other, has become the bellwether for Kenyan Athletics. The nation’s first gold at an Olympic Games in this event came via Amos Biwott at the Mexico City Games in 1968.

Upon my arrival in Nairobi, I was invited to visit Mombasa to meet the President of the Republic of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, who wanted to salute some of Kenya’s medallists in Tokyo.

Kenyans are once again dominating at their home under-20 world championships this summer

Kenyatta spent over two hours with the athletes and made it quite clear how important it was for Kenya to once again take control of the steeplechase.

One of those medallists sitting alongside him won a bronze at the distance but felt the need to pledge it would be gold next time in the world championships next year in Eugene, Oregon.

I’ve rarely seen such pressure piled on an athlete and to the others who came away with silver or bronze medals the message, though delivered with a smile, was unambiguously blunt: ‘Next year you have to run quicker,’ quipped the president.

Kenya finished third in the athletics medal table in Tokyo. But even though this has been another successful season for Kenyan athletes, Jackson Tuwei, president of Athletics Kenya, has already instigated a performance review.

All good federations, whether they have done well or underperformed, will be going through the same process and I am guessing that will be the same for UK Athletics.

Kenya lost their vice-like grip on the steeplechase in both the mens and women’s categories

While British fans saluted the outstanding performance of Keely Hodgkinson in the women’s 800m — a silver medal at 19 is jaw-dropping — and a heart-warming bronze for Holly Bradshaw in the pole vault, plus two silvers in the men’s and women’s 1,500m, it did appear to me there were rather too many British athletes that at best looked uneasy and at worst seemed to leave their best early-season form trailing some distance behind them.

The real test in athletics is performance under intense pressure and nothing compares to a championship environment.

Success at a one-off Diamond League meeting is not to be sniffed at but it’s the medals that count. The challenge was summed up by a Kenyan official when I was talking to the teams and their delegations.

He had an encyclopedic knowledge of British greats who all happened to be male. I was about to remind him of the seismic contribution made by great British athletes like Sally Gunnell, Paula Radcliffe and Jessica Ennis-Hill.

Before I was able to intervene he observed that it seemed British athletics was being propped up by women. I couldn’t argue with him.

Great Britain’s athletics is being carried by the women and there’s big room for improvement 

These Under 20 Championships have had their challenges but nearly a thousand athletes and over 100 countries have made it here under some incredibly difficult circumstances.

These championships are important for another reason. The highest attrition rate we have in athletics is in the 18 to 21 years age group. Many of the medallists here in Nairobi are unlikely to make it into their senior team in a year or two.

The Under 20 Championships helps bridge the gap, both in performance and inspiration. It is vital athletes remain in the sport, active and successful, graduating to the senior ranks.