Moraa will be competing in both the 400 and 800m at the upcoming Olympic games in Paris, and she has revealed her targets at the event, as well as the one race that changed her career.
Reigning World 800m champion Mary Moraa has revealed her targets at the upcoming Olympic Games, where she will compete in both the 400m and 800m events.
Moraa, who has risen to prominence in the 800m after initially specializing in the 400m, aims to deliver two gold medals for Kenya.
In a recent interview on the Safari za Mabingwa Show with Oga Obina, Moraa revealed her specific objectives for the Olympics and acknowledged the tough competition she will face.
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"I feel good. I see myself medalling yes, but I am not sure which one," she said.
"Everyone has been training for four years waiting for these 2024 Olympics. This is much bigger than the world championships.
“Everyone has a target on their back to want to become an Olympic champion, or even a two-time Olympic champion, so it is not easy," Moraa added.
Reflecting on her performance at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham two years ago, where she won her first-ever gold medal at the senior level, the 24-year-old explained how that victory motivated her to aim for the highest honors in future events.
During the race in Birmingham, Moraa moved to the back of the pack with 300 meters to go but found the energy to claw back and claim victory—a strategy she also successfully employed at the World Championships in Budapest.
“They all passed me. With 300 meters to go, I remembered that I was on the track. Everyone was watching me, and the motivation from coming from a humble background sprang to mind, which motivated me," Moraa recounted.
"The first lap, the coach was lauding me for running well, but now I had sprung behind. I asked myself, ‘Is he still talking or has he gotten laid back?’ So I had to surge back forward to raise his spirits again.”
Moraa attributed her remarkable comebacks to the encouragement from her coach Alex Sang and former 800m World Champion Janeth Jepkosgei.
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"With 300 meters to go, the coach and Janeth Jepkosgei injected some fire in me with their cheers, which motivated me to go for the gold. I passed them all and claimed the gold."
As Mary Moraa prepares for the 2024 Olympics, her determination and resilience make her one of Kenya's brightest hopes for success on the global stage.