NAIROBI, Kenya, August 15- Beijing Olympics champion, Pamela Jelimo, who lost her crown in London last Saturday has owned up to a tactical error that cost her the chance to cement a legacy in women 800m running.
Speaking upon her return from the Olympics on Wednesday, the World Indoor Champion expressed her eagerness to make up for the London distress at future events including the upcoming 2016 Games in Rio-de-Janeiro.
“It was a small error and I do not want to say that I’m not in good shape but it cost me. I’m still the same and I believe in myself and I will do the best next time,” Jelimo who ran 1:57.59 for fourth in her defence where Russia’s Mariya Savinova won in 1:56.19 conceded.
The vice-captain of Team Kenya defended her teammates for their performance that saw Kenya win 2 gold, 5 silver and 4 bronze medals from track and field that paled in comparison to their tally in Beijing that brought 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze.
“Everybody did to their level best. All of us were expecting many medals but that is competition and it does not mean that because we did not get them, we are the same people doing great for this country.
“I’m a good example, I was in the World Indoor Championships and I did Kenya proud by winning the first title and I believe we shall come back,” she added.
“I know I have to draw my plans early so that next year, I shall make sure I do not mess again and I do well at the World Championships,” the world leader who is scheduled to compete at the Lausanne, Birmingham and Brussels legs of Samsung Diamond League affirmed.
Speaking on her race where she took the charge from the back straight before fading at the homestretch as Savinova, South Africa’s Caster Semenya and Ekaterina Poistogova went past to claim the medals, head coach, Julius Kirwa, alluded to her tactical blunder.
“We had planned the women 800m with Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei. We agreed that Janeth would do the first 400m in 56 seconds and Jelimo to be at her stride and she did that but instead of sprinting at 200m to go, she did it at 350m.
“That is how we lost the gold but her performance of 1:57 is very fast and we are okay with it,” the tactician explained.
