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Kenya: Bungei Hopes to Take Final Bow in Beijing
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The Nation (Nairobi)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Chris Musumba
Nairobi
Former world indoor 800 metres champion, Wilfred Bungei hopes to take his final bow on the ultimate stage - at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
But first, the 28-year-old has to deal with the "small matter" of qualifying for next month's Games at this weekend's Athletics Kenya Olympic track and field trials at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.
Bungei exploded onto the global stage as a teenager when he raced to a silver medal at the 1998 IAAF World Junior Championships in Annecy, France, in a time of one minute, 47.53 seconds. The Kapsabet-born star then graduated to the seniors'ranks where be bagged another silver at the 2001 IAAF World Athletics Championships in Edmonton in 1:44.55.
His progress in the two-lap race was, however, slowed down by perennial injuries.
But his hour of glory came in Moscow in 2006 when he finally climbed to the top of the medals podium by clinching the much sought-after gold medal at the IAAF World Indoor Championships.
Injuries continued to prove to be Bungei's achille's heel as was the case last March when he was forced to pull out of the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Valencia in the 11th hour with a thigh muscle injury. But now, Bungei - with a personal best of 1:42.34 (clocked in Rieti, Italy, in September 2002) is back, confident that he will exorcise the ghosts that have haunted his every appearance on the grand stage.
Formidable opponents
"I'm back from Italy where I had gone for treatment and training. I now have my eyes set on the Olympics and not even the trials will stand in my way to finish off the race I started 10 years ago. I know it will be tough but I feel I'm ready for the challenge," he said.
His confidence notwithstanding, ploughing through the field for the coveted Olympic ticket will by no means be an easy task. He has formidable opponents to deal with considering that this year alone, six Kenyans have run under 1:45. They include World Champion Alfred Kirwa, Africa and World Junior Champion David Rudisha, Gilbert Kipchoge, Boaz Kiplagat, Ismael Kombich and Asbel Kiprop.
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Bungei says Kenyan-born American Bernard Lagat and Moroccan great Hicham El Guerrouj twice faltered on the big stage but were able to pick themselves up and finally strike the gold. "They too were frustrated, but in the end they have had their opportunities. Now it's Bungei's time and I will make sure I board that plane to Beijing," he said.
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