The Silent Victor

by Reuben Chelimo

You may not have heard of him, or even seen him on your screen during the Olympics or any major sporting event, but Edward Kimosop has been going places in his athletics career. At the age of 18, he narrowly missed to represent Kenya in the Olympics. Today, Kimosop is involved in various road races around the world, and has won various medals and prizes.

Kimosop hails from North Baringo, a second born in a family of 11. Listening to him speak from his Ngong apartment as he recounts his former days in school paints a picture of a man who has overcome various odds. “I used to burn charcoal to raise school fees”, he passionately remembers. In fact when he recently won various road races in Germany, Austria and Turkey, he vividly recalls what his family told him, “You are our breadwinner”.

His is a story too common with many athletes in Kenya, who have risen to become international stars from abject poverty and constant struggle.

He recounts one 7.5km race that he participated in Austria, “It was a difficult one in which we were ascending a steep and rugged terrain. I was gasping for breath, and the call to give up came too often, but I soldiered on. With about three kilometres remaining, I was not in the favourite 10. Then suddenly the terrain changed during the last 4 km and we started descending. I signalled to my fellow Kenyan athlete who was behind me, “it is fair up here, run!” And with that I accelerated and beat all the favourite contenders. It was a major victory, not only for me but for my sponsor, Paul Tergat who had paid for my ticket to Europe that season. I was highly published in Europe. I was also invited to participate again.

Charity Run
Kimosop is also involved in running for charity. He is affiliated to Vapor, an American organization that supports destitute children. Vapor, as from its literal meaning, is about life being as fleeting as vapour. It thus makes a claim to volunteering athletes to utilize their talent in supporting the less-fortunate in the society within the limited time that God has offered all mankind.
It is a noble cause, that of running and not expecting any pay, but deep inside, with a strong conviction that someone is benefiting from the exercise. That is what has made Kimosop who he is.

“Paul Tergat, the veteran athlete and world champion is my role model,” Kimosop asserts. “I do not know where I would be were it not for his overwhelming support.” From this interview, we were able to establish that Tergat supports more than 300 athletes to attain their dreams. He has helped many in securing sponsors, paying their airline tickets to participate in world events, supporting them with supplements and their general upkeep.

Ngong Area
Kimosop actively participates in training on a daily basis in Ngong. This area and its environs is the choice of many athletes for a training ground. The area offers high altitude, approximately 2,300m above sea level. It also offers ample space for running and also doing exercises after the races. The area started becoming popular from the 1990s when Paul Tergat and Ishmael Chelang’a came to settle and even marked various points where they would be using in their training. Other athletes followed suit and today, there are about 1000 of them who have settled here. Indeed even international athletes have showed interest in using the area to train, and which will offer them a chance to practice with the local athletes who are renowned globally.

According to Kimosop, as from October this year, athletes from various countries are expected to pitch camp in Ngong to train with the local athletes.

Kimosop is happily married to Benadine and they have two children.