Samuel Gathimba, the titan of Kenyan race walking, is shedding his skin. The three-time African champion has declared war on a new frontier, setting his sights on the grueling marathon distance at the upcoming World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Brasília. It is a leap of faith that could redefine his legacy.

For years, Gathimba has been the lonely king of the 20km walk, a discipline often overshadowed by our runners’ dominance on the track. But with World Athletics introducing the full marathon distance to the global programme, Gathimba sees a golden opportunity. "I am deep in the grind," he told reporters, a statement that underscores the punishing transition from 20km to the lung-busting 42km.

A New Battleground

The championships in April will be historic, marking the first time the marathon race walk is staged at this level. Gathimba is not coming in blind; he boasts a personal best of 2:49:31 in the 35km event, a statistic that makes him a formidable contender against the global elite.

• The Japanese Threat: Gathimba’s main rivals remain the disciplined Japanese duo of Toshikazu Yamanishi and Koki Ikeda, who denied him gold at the 2022 championships. He is training to dismantle their dominance.
• Strategic Shift: "We must take this chance," Gathimba asserted. His move is calculated—early adoption of the new distance could give Kenya a strategic advantage before the rest of the world catches up.
• The Stakes: A win in Brazil would not just be a personal triumph; it would elevate race walking in Kenya from a fringe event to a mainstream medal mine.

As he pounds the tarmac in preparation, Gathimba carries the hopes of a nation that is used to gold. He is stepping into the unknown, but if his track record is anything to go by, he will walk out of Brazil a legend.