Olympic marathon: Hellen Obiri hopes to bow out with elusive gold medal

In 2019 Obiri became the first woman to win world titles in outdoor track, indoor track and cross country events.

And her big mission when she transitioned from the track to the road in late 2022 was to make the Kenyan Olympic team in a quest to complete her range of global titles.

In pursuit of this, Obiri moved away from her family in September that year to live in the United States and train under coach Dathan Ritzenhein.

At first she left husband Tom and daughter Tania back in Kenya, but the family has now settled in Boulder, Colorado.

“You get more opportunities when you are where the company is based,” Obiri explained.

“In the USA all I need is at proximity.

“I have easy access to the things that I need for proper training like shoes, training facilities, gyms and [a] nutritionist.”

Injury prevention and treatment was foremost among her thoughts as she prepared for Paris 2024.

“The most important part is avoiding injuries and working on recovery after injuries,” she explained.

“Here, when [you are] injured, it is well handled and you recover quickly.”

Ahead of the Olympics, Obiri has released a film entitled ‘The Heart to Race’.

The eight-minute long YouTube film showcases Obiri’s journey to Paris and her preparations alongside club training partner Sinta Vissa of Italy.

“I urge Kenyans and all athletics fans to watch the film,” Obiri said.

“Hopefully we can continue marketing ourselves and put Kenya on the map.”

There is little doubt about Obiri’s heart for the race, and Sunday’s marathon in Paris could be the perfect way to prove it one final time at the Olympics.