The reigning World Masters Indoor racewalking champion Erick Shikuku has his sights set on gracing the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary this August and the Olympics in Paris next year.
Despite his advanced age compared to other racewalkers in Kenya, Shikuku remains hopeful of securing a spot in these prestigious competitions.
“As I focus on the national championships and the trials for the World Championships, my goal is to maintain my fitness and give it my best shot to qualify for Budapest. I am aware that the time I clock might not be enough, but I want to try my utmost. I am also looking forward to fighting for a place in Paris next year,” shared the determined 39-year-old athlete.
Qualifying for the World Championships at his age would be a dream come true for Shikuku. Not only would it benefit him personally, but it would also serve as inspiration to younger racewalkers, showing them that there is a future in the sport.
Shikuku’s ultimate aspiration is to see as many talented individuals as possible take up racewalking.
In addition to the World Championships and the Olympics, Shikuku has his sights set on the Africa Masters Athletics Championships in September and next year’s World Masters Championships.
Shikuku’s stellar performance at the World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships in Torun, Poland in March, where he secured gold in the men’s 3000m and 10km races, marked him as one of Kenya’s brightest stars.
Reflecting on his achievements, Shikuku revealed that his success was not surprising, given the extensive preparations beforehand.
“I was well-prepared for the win. This time, unlike in the past, we had a two-week residential camp before departure, allowing us to fine-tune our strengths and weaknesses. However, I am slightly disappointed that I didn’t manage to set new world records in both races as I had hoped,” shared the former Mumias Sugar footballer.
The Poland campaign provided valuable insights for Shikuku, who believes Kenya could benefit from following in the footsteps of European countries that have established structures to develop the sport.
Shikuku emphasized the need for racewalkers in Kenya to receive ample preparations and year-round facilities, similar to the support provided to long and middle-distance runners.
“The technical level in Europe is far ahead of us. Racewalkers there receive extensive preparations and have access to facilities throughout the year.
Kenya should adopt a similar approach, just like we do with long and middle-distance runners, by providing specialized camps and opportunities to compete in races to prepare for major competitions,” expressed Shikuku.
Shikuku highlighted the abundance of young, talented racewalkers in Kenya who require support to compete at the highest level. Funding remains a significant challenge, especially for an athlete like him who trains independently and supports himself.
However, with the right support, Shikuku firmly believes he can go far in his career and achieve great success.
