Korir: Early planning for LA Olympics key in increasing Kenya’s medal prospects

National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) first vice president and Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development Director Barnaba Korir has underlined the importance of long-term planning as the backbone of Kenya’s sustained success in athletics and Olympic competitions.

Korir said Athletics Kenya has embraced a culture of early and structured planning, ensuring that all stakeholders are aligned well in advance.

He revealed that the federation has already completed its implementation plans for 2025, while the entire 2026 programme is fully mapped out and known to all concerned parties.

“It is good to plan ahead, plan, because they say ‘if you don’t plan you are planning to fail’ and that is why we as Athletics Kenya always plan in advance,” Korir said.

“For example, we finished planning our 2026 program and every one of our stakeholders knows how it will be run. So, 2025 has been completed in terms of implementation and 2026 is already fully planned.”

Speaking in his capacity as head of Youth Development at Athletics Kenya, Korir stressed that the federation is now shifting its focus even further into the future, with deliberate attention on the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

This forward-looking approach, he explained, is closely tied to Kenya’s preparations for the next Olympic Games.

“What we are planning now is 2027 and 2028 knowing that we have two years in which as the athletics federation in the country, in collaboration with the National Olympic Committee, we are asking ourselves what we will do to prepare our team when they go to the Olympics to be ready,” he noted.

Korir was clear that Kenya’s ambition goes beyond mere participation on the global stage. The goal, he said, is to build a well-prepared team capable of competing at the highest level and delivering medals.

“To compete, not to participate, so that they can win medals, and we are already working on that,” Korir said.

His remarks highlight a strategic partnership between Athletics Kenya and NOCK aimed at safeguarding Kenya’s reputation as a global athletics powerhouse through careful planning, youth development, and sustained Olympic success.