World champion Odira opens up on Tokyo conquest, Commonwealth Games and career trajectory

After posting an impressive performances at the Tokyo World Championships, where she bagged gold in the women’s years 800m and set a championships record, Lilian Odira has now trained her eyes on conquering the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, where is aiming to bag another gold.

“I’ll take time to strategize, but my goal remains the same — to stay on the podium and eventually conquer the ultimate championships,” she added.

Her stunning victory caught the athletics world by storm but she says she had put in the hard work with discipline anchoring her career.

 “I knew I had prepared well. I took every round seriously and trusted the process,” Odira said. She also credits javelin star Julius Yego for his encouragement throughout her Tokyo preparations. “Yego told me, ‘You’ll get this medal, and that stuck with me,” she explained.

Her coach Jacinta Muraguri, who has guided Odira since 2016, called the road to gold a journey of resilience, from overcoming the Covid-19 disruptions to rebuilding confidence in the post-pandemic area, Muraguri was quick to point out the breakthrough.

 “After the World Championships in Tokyo, we knew we were on the right track. The next goal is the Commonwealth Games — another gold,” Muraguri said.

In a conversation on Sporty Monday, Odira also cautioned against doping, urging athletes to stay disciplined and vigilant.

“Everything you take as an athlete matters. You must be careful to avoid contaminated substances,” she warned.

Her achievement also comes with a KSh 3 million government reward, which she called “an inspiration and a sign that hard work pays off.”  Equally her gold will earn her an extra Ksh9million from the World Athletics Championships and she reckons, her parents will have a share of it, crediting them for the support in her career

Coach Muraguri echoed that advice, stressing the importance of responsible management and smart financial planning for long-term stability.