by Larry Eder
Asbel Kiprop is the quietest Olympic gold medalist that I have ever met. Asbel came on the running scene in 2007, when he took fourth at a 19 year old, in the Osaka World champs at 1,500 meters. In 2008, Asbel took the gold at 1,500 meters in the Beijing Olympics. In 2009, Asbel again took fourth. In 2011, Asbel took the gold at the World Champs in Daegu. Kiprop’s personal bests are 1:43.15 for 800 meters and 3:29.78 for 1,500 meters. His English is precise, and he is a student of the sport.
Here we a few of the questions we asked Asbel:
1. Do you have favorite tracks?
Kiprop: ” I have preferred tracks, the tracks whenever that I go, I set my personal bests.”
2. Tell us about your gold medal race in Daegu,,where you won the 1,500 meters?
Kiprop: “It was really a tough race. It was really a fast race, Centrowitz and Kipligat moved very quickly, I was never able to make the break that I wanted. It was very difficult. “
3. When you race for time, what are you trying to accomplish?
Kiprop: “I want to know what hits me when the race is fast. I am watching Silas Kiplagat, who has the fastest time in the world and is a very tough guy.”
4. Have you met Kip Keino?
Kiprop:” Yeah, yeah, I trained in Kip Keino’s place before I went to Beijing. I started running cross country in 2007, then I went to 1,500m in Osaka, where I finished fourth.”
5. How important is a world record for you?
Kiprop: “If an athlete wins medals, he will never be complete until he has also set world record, and become a hero of his sport. I have won Olympic medal, I have won World Championship medal. “
Photo of Asbel Kiprop, by PhotoRun.net
