The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has announced changes in the Kenya marathon team set to represent the country in the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics.
NOC-K announced that Brigid Kosgei who was one of the three women marathoners named in the team will be replaced by Sharon Lokedi.
In a statement on July 10, the Committee said that Kosgei suffered an injury while undergoing training which has been on for over two months.
“The Kenya Marathon team heading to the Olympic games in Paris has been training for slightly over two months, it’s during one of the regular monitoring sessions that Olympic silver medalist Brigid Kosgei expressed an injury concern,” read part of the statement.
NOC-K said that after expressing her concern, Kosgei was reviewed by a medical team which came into a conclusion that she will not be heading to France.
Sharon Lokedi to Replace Brigid Kosgei
Following the decision, the committee noted that the Olympic silver medalist will be replaced by Lokedi who had been named in the reserve team, to join Peres Jepchirchir and Hellen Obiri.
“Upon a review by the medical team led by the Chief Medical officer Dr Ondiege, Kosgei will NOT be heading to Paris Olympics.
Sharon Lokedi who was named in the reserve team will now join defending Champion Peres Jepchirchir and Hellen Obiri to fly Kenya’s flag in Paris,” the committee added.
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“The National Olympics committee would like to thank Brigid for the time to spent in training under the Team Kenya Umbrella and will continue supporting her throughout the season.”
Brigid Kosgei who is a five-time major marathon winner broke the world record at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon.
Kosgei was named as a member of the marathon team by Athletics Kenya when it unveiled the final list of Kenyan men and women marathon squad on May 1, as part of the preparations for the summer competitions.
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Joining her was Hellen Obiri, the reigning Boston and New York City Marathon champion and Peris Jepchirchir who in an eight-month span in 2021 and 2022, became the only person to win the Olympic, Boston and New York City marathons in a career.
Team Kenya in Paris Olympics
Two-time Olympics marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, on the other hand, was named to lead the team of three men.
Joining Kipchoge for Paris is Benson Kipruto, who won the Tokyo Marathon in March 2024 and London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao Mutiso, who won the first World Marathon Majors race in April 2024.
The 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion Timothy Kiplagat was named as the reserve member of the team.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Rugby Sevens team, Shujaa, have since pitched camp at Miramas, France where they are to undergo their intensive training ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
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