NAIROBI, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya said his trophy cabinet is now complete after he won the gold medal during the just-completed African Athletics Championships held in Asaba, Nigeria.
Kipruto, who jetted into Nairobi alongside other team members on Monday evening, said they went out and performed as they had promised Kenyans despite the challenges they faced after their arrival in the West African nation, where they spent two nights on the cold floor at the airport due to flight connection issues.
"I am delighted with my win because the African championship gold medal was the only trophy that was missing from my cabinet. I am also thrilled that we managed to bag 11 gold medals to emerge overall winners," Kipruto told journalists.
Kipruto, 23, started his winning streak as a youth with a gold medal during the World Youth Championships held in Lille, France in 2011 and later won the world junior title in 2012 followed by Olympic title in 2016, world title in 2017 and Commonwealth and African titles in 2018 making him the most accomplished Kenyan steeplechase runner ever.
He said the problems they met upon arrival buoyed them to turn adversity into success.
"We were taught to always put up with dire situations but what lifted our spirits was the fact that we knew what to us to Asaba and we managed to keep our eyes on the prize after putting everything in the back-burner," Kipruto said.
Beatrice Chepkoech, the 3,000m women's steeplechase world record holder, said she is now focusing her sights on the final Diamond League event and the World Cup.
"Our clean sweep in the 3,000m steeplechase came against all my expectations and I am delighted that we all managed a podium finish," she remarked.
Kenya won 11 gold medals, six silver medals and two bronze medals to top the medal table at the 21st edition of the continental games.
