NAIROBI, Sept. 25 -- Abel Kirui was at risk of being the forgotten man of elite marathon running until he won the 2016 Chicago Marathon title.
The Kenyan, who made his name when he won the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, had risen to be a force over the ultimate distance, defending his crown at the 2011 worlds in Daegu before winning silver at the London 2017 Olympics.
However, injury and loss of form combined to push him off the radar of elite marathon running until Oct. 9, 2016 when in brutal duel with compatriot and title-holder over the final kilometers, Dickson Chumba, Kirui prevailed in Chicago in 2:11:13.
That epic victory saw him fulfil a long held desire to finally crack America with the added bonus of winning his first world marathon majors title.
Last year, the 36-year-old to lose his title to American distance running star, Galen Rupp (2:09:20), with Kirui finishing second 30 seconds in arrears and ahead of the 2018 edition on Oct. 7, the Kenyan expressed his eagerness to reclaim his Chicago crown.
"I'd been to New York and had no luck and that's when I said to my then coach (Renato Canova) I want to try my luck in Chicago.
"I remember it was a great fight between me and Dickson. The last 2km was not easy but I remember crossing the line in front and dancing beautifully. It was fun. That day brings back many happy memories," he recalled.
In his third appearance at the "Windy City" Kirui is confident he will be right in the mix for the men's title.
"I never feel any pressure in Chicago and I have so many friends here. I have had no injuries, which was totally different to last year, and I am very much hoping to be in the fight," he added.
Since he was a young boy growing up in Nandi County in the North Rift of Kenya, the USA has always held a fascination for Kirui - one of more idiosyncratic and charismatic members of the NN Running Team.
Making his marathon debut some 12 years ago in Berlin - when he placed ninth in 2:17:47 - the gregarious athlete has since chiselled out an outstanding career over the 42.2km distance.
Claiming second in the 2007 Berlin Marathon and a winner of the 2008 Vienna Marathon he quickly established a proud marathon reputation.
Yet his breakthrough performance came at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin when he destroyed the field to win in a championship record 2:06:54 and marked the moment by breaking into his trademark celebratory post-race jig of joy.
In 2010 he traveled to the New York City Marathon to make his competitive debut in the US but the tall, slender Kenyan had to settle for a distant eighth - almost five minutes down on race winner Gebregziabher Gebremariam of Ethiopia.
More success followed for Kirui. In 2011 he retained his world marathon title in Daegu by a record victory margin of 2:28 from compatriot and NN Running Team colleague Vincent Kipruto.
In 2017 Kirui added the Olympic silver medal to his collection behind the NN Running Team's Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda but the stone in his shoe was his lack of success and profile in the US - in 2016 he set about rectifying this fact.
In 2016, Abel, who was hunting his first marathon victory since his second world title five years earlier, finally delivered his American dream.
不要让自己做有才华的穷人
创造你的运气
SEC行政诉讼案威胁中概股在美前景
分析:惠普能走出泥沼吗?
泰国反政府集会凸显总理英拉面临的挑战
Broken Wings,Flying Heart
The story of an hour
“福利国家”是如何养成的?
This Beautiful Moment
父爱是一诺千金
国际投资者重返印度楼市
美国财长对财政悬崖谈判摆出强硬立场
I like the subtle
浑水质疑奥兰国际灰色会计做法
美国国务卿克林顿前往中东争取化解以巴冲突
美世调查:新加坡基础设施居全球之冠
国美力图在网上销售领域奋起直追
英国将坚持紧缩至2018年
通往广场的路不止一条
360与百度在搜索领域展开攻防战
茶餐厅连锁翠华控股香港上市首日股价飙升
日韩大选的区别
东南亚高增长吸引投资者目光
We can't Endure the Light of Life
苹果和联想双双计划在美国生产PC
美国房价连续6个月上涨
I Try to Remember
大国角逐下的中亚
北极航线为液化气油轮赴亚洲开辟捷径
炽热的爱恋与甜蜜的喜欢
不限 |
英语教案 |
英语课件 |
英语试题 |
不限 |
不限 |
上册 |
下册 |
不限 |