Conseslus Kipruto

thumb Conseslus Kipruto (born 8 December 1994) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner who specializes in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Quotes I had a lot of stress, a lot of worries, What am I going to do until I make it to Worlds? What will I do when I’m in recovery. I said, ‘let me build this pool, let me do [underwater] running and that can make my legs feel strong when I start training. It will not be like beginning’. I put all my effort for the day into the pool, When I put it all together, I was doing like five hours a day. When I ran in Paris I said to my coach, ‘I don’t have the power’. He told me to relax, that I had to cancel the last Diamond League and I said, ‘coach, I have to do it. We did speed work like four times a week for two weeks, After those two weeks he wished me good luck and said, ‘Conseslus, you’re going to win the title’. After the injuries, people started to say [Kenya] had to depend on [Benjamin] Kigen or other young Kenyans. For me, I didn’t want to put myself in that pressure. I told people, I’m not going to bring that pressure because if you do that you’re going to lose your mind. I keep training – that’s how to handle things. I was telling him: ‘don’t use the energy, we are going to use it in the finals. I said: ‘no, I’m the defending champion, I want to take the victory. This is a Kenyan event’. I said, ‘I’m going to retain my title, to take this victory to Kenya’. It was an amazing crowd, I was like, ‘I’m in a competition, I should focus on this,’ but that made me fight, especially in the last 50 metres. I planned to jump the last barrier with him but I made some mistakes, I was a couple of metres [behind] so I thought I was going to lose it. I didn’t want to be a former world champion so I had a great and strong mentality in my head and in my heart. I said, ‘I want to take the victory. I was praying: let it be me,Let the first name be Conseslus. I was telling the people you have seen I’m still there, I was telling the people of the world I was there to save my title. I win a lot of gold medals, But this one was something special. Doha gold was something special – Conseslus, (October 21 2019) My first memories of running came when winning the 1500m, 3000m and 5000m as a primary school student. Back then, I didn’t train and I was much more interested in football even though my neighbours used to tell me I had a talent for running including my uncle, Cleophus Saina, who worked as a physio. During my early years in high school I continued to focus on football, playing twice a week. My focus was on developing as a striker, although I recall my head teacher also supported my uncle’s viewpoint. So much so, when he used to see me playing football he used to stop the game and say, ‘no more football Conseslus, I want you to run’. For a long time, I had no interest in running but because of the persistence of my uncle and head teacher as a Form Three student, aged 16, I decided to work with a coach and train for athletics. I started out as a 1500m runner and won my district title but I only finished third in the county championships and missed out on making the two-strong team for regionals, the level below nationals. However, my county had no team for the steeplechase at regionals, and when they asked for a volunteer I was the first to put my hand up because I was keen to compete at that next level. Even though I ran barefoot and I had never jumped a steeplechase barrier, I won my very first steeplechase race. Then in what was only my second ever steeplechase race I won the national secondary schools title. It was amazing to be national champion, especially as I had so little steeplechase experience. “The next year I went on to compete at the 2011 IAAF World U18 Championships in France where I went on to win gold. It was during my second season as a steeplechaser when I first started to learn to love the event. Steeplechase has brought me so much joy and happiness over the past eight years. It has taken me so far in my life and earned me the World, Olympic and Commonwealth titles. The steeplechase is not an easy event. From lap four onwards each barrier seems higher than the previous one and to be successful you need to combine good strength with good endurance and speed. You also need to be smart and be aware of other competitors around you, especially when preparing to jump each barrier. The steeplechase has become my life. It has taken me a long way from my home village of Lutiet in Nandi County and has earned me a good career. You can’t beat the thrill of clearing the barriers at speed, it a great adrenaline rush, something magical. Conseslus Kipruto: I love steeplechase because..., (June 21 2018) I was very fortunate to enjoy success in athletics from a young age. I won the 2011 world U18 and 2012 world U20 steeplechase titles and what followed came many good things: nice emotions, appreciation, recognition, pride, further opportunities and material benefits. But other challenges also followed. In Kenya, we live with other families and close neighbours – what we term the ‘extended family’. When someone is successful, the expectation is to support this family. It is seen that it is only fair we all benefit from this system, young or old. My mother raised me alone with the help of my uncle, Cleophas, and my close relatives remain very helpful and supportive to my career. It is with their help that I became a successful athlete, so of course I was only too happy to contribute to their improvement. However, the challenge I face is how big should the circle of support be? It should be big enough to not forget anyone or create jealousy, but it shouldn’t be so big that you lose control. My manager always tells me, ‘It’s good to assist people but if too many hang on you, then you can’t get up in the morning to do your own things. If that happens, you won’t be able to help anyone’. Of course, my new status gave me other opportunities and temptations to a life less fitting for an athlete. Some of my childhood friends operate normal jobs and use weekends to party. It’s tough when your friends are going to a party and you have to stay behind because the 6am morning run is waiting. Of course, I have done some partying like any teenager would do – not always to the appreciation of my coach! Over time, you grow up and learn about priorities and what are your real goals. Sub-par performances and injuries (back and hamstring) teach you that at a senior level you cannot play around. In 2013 I was convinced I was going to win the IAAF World Championships in Moscow and I was very disappointed to take silver. I lost to a legend (Ezekiel Kemboi) and two years later I had to swallow that pill once more as I finished second (to Kemboi) at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. Thankfully, to ensure I continue my success on the senior stage, I’ve made my training life very stable and my life very organised. If you have money, life can become very complicated or simple. I learned that the excitement of making it complicated is not very productive. I also learned that I hate losing. I had goals of being world and Olympic champion, but there are still some titles I don’t have, plus I desire that world record one day. To any age-group champion I would say: always remember what made you successful. Never veer off that path or one day it will come back to bite you. My greatest challenge – Conseslus Kipruto, (October 23 2017) I have some discs in my lower back that have jerked out of place and this triggers a sharp pain that makes it difficult for me sometimes to compete or even train. I failed to complete the race in the Rabat Diamond League 2023 in Morocco on Sunday, owing to this problem that keeps recurring. The recent months have been tough for me and there are many moments I have struggled to get back to usual fitness level and mental strength. I’m not giving up just yet and I intend to fight tooth and nail for gold. I’m determined to bring the title back into the country in August. I’m working very hard to ensure I make the country proud in Hungary. I know both El Bakkali and Wale are forced to reckon with but I’m left with no choice but to fight for my country. I want to assure our Kenyan fans that I’m bringing home the gold medal in August. 2016 Olympic champ Conseslus explains his debacle in Rabat last week, (June 01 2023) External links Category:Track and field athletes Category:Sportspeople from Kenya Category:1994 births Category:Living people