Vivian Cheruiyot holds off Defar in the 5000m in Rome (© Giancarlo Colombo)
Reigning 5,000m and 10,000m World champion Vivian Cheruiyot has confirmed that the Aviva London Grand Prix on July 13-14 will be her final race before the start of the Olympic Games.
The Kenyan, who has three World titles to her name, will go head-to-head with some of her leading Olympic challengers at Crystal Palace, and believes that running the 5000m at this Samsung Diamond League meeting in south London just before the Games will put her in a good position as she bids for her first Olympic medal.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to compete in London in my final race before the Olympics. I will be racing against some of my potential Olympic opponents, so it will be good practice for me. I spend a lot of time in London and it is like a second home for me.”
Leading the challenge at London’s two-day meeting will be Kenyan compatriots Sylvia Kebet, the World 5000m silver medallist, and Linet Masai, who won bronze in the 10,000m in Daegu last year.
28-year-old Cheruiyot is determined to win her first Olympic medal this summer, having finished out of the medals in Sydney 2000 as a 17-year-old, and finishing fifth in Beijing four years ago over 5000m. However, 2011 was a year to remember for Cheruiyot, and she is confident of improving on those past Olympic performances.
“I won two gold medals in Daegu last year, and to win gold in London at the Games would be very special, so I am really motivated to make sure that I am successful this summer.
“Both the 5000m and 10,000m are going to be very competitive events at the Olympic Games. I have medals in every other major championships. The Olympics is the only one missing in my collection.”
The women’s 5,000m will take place on Friday 13 July at the Aviva London Grand Prix.
Organisers for the IAAF
The Kenyan, who has three World titles to her name, will go head-to-head with some of her leading Olympic challengers at Crystal Palace, and believes that running the 5000m at this Samsung Diamond League meeting in south London just before the Games will put her in a good position as she bids for her first Olympic medal.
“I’m really looking forward to coming to compete in London in my final race before the Olympics. I will be racing against some of my potential Olympic opponents, so it will be good practice for me. I spend a lot of time in London and it is like a second home for me.”
Leading the challenge at London’s two-day meeting will be Kenyan compatriots Sylvia Kebet, the World 5000m silver medallist, and Linet Masai, who won bronze in the 10,000m in Daegu last year.
28-year-old Cheruiyot is determined to win her first Olympic medal this summer, having finished out of the medals in Sydney 2000 as a 17-year-old, and finishing fifth in Beijing four years ago over 5000m. However, 2011 was a year to remember for Cheruiyot, and she is confident of improving on those past Olympic performances.
“I won two gold medals in Daegu last year, and to win gold in London at the Games would be very special, so I am really motivated to make sure that I am successful this summer.
“Both the 5000m and 10,000m are going to be very competitive events at the Olympic Games. I have medals in every other major championships. The Olympics is the only one missing in my collection.”
The women’s 5,000m will take place on Friday 13 July at the Aviva London Grand Prix.
Organisers for the IAAF
