NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – Five-time World Cross Country champion Paul Tergat has been appointed as the ambassador for the World Cross Country Championships, set for March 18, in Bathurst, Australia.
Tergat, current president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK), etched his name in history books as one of the legends of cross country when he won five consecutive individual titles between 1995-1999.
In a statement, Tergat spoke of the fond memories he collected from cross country and the impact of the race on his overall growth as a person.
“Cross country will always be a special event in my career. It evokes very fond memories because this is really where my long athletics career was developed,” the 2000 Olympics 10,000m silver medalist said.
One of Tergat’s standout moments in the World Cross Country Championships was at the Belfast edition in 1999 where his gold in the senior men’s race earned Kenya its 14th successive overall title and helped cement the country’s reputation as a powerhouse in the race.
The latest appointment adds to the list of the many caps that he wears, including as a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Speaking during the recent launch of the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), Tergat – who is in his second term as NOCK supremo – reflected on how he had for long haboured the dream of entering into sports administration once he hang up his spikes.
“I remember going to my first Olympics and I was so amazed by the organization and how everything was in order. I told myself that one day I want to be in sports leadership so I can help realise some of these things back home. Even while still in competition, I was already thinking of how to get into sports administration when I retire,” Tergat, who made his Olympics debut in Atlanta, said.
The World Cross Country Championships will be held after they were postponed from 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and Australia’s strict protocols.
