Kenya's Tergat eyes Olympic gold harvest as team official

NAIROBI, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Paul Tergat might have hanged his running gear, but he has pulled on new shoes as head of his country's Olympic Committee, where more is required of him.

Speaking in Nairobi on Monday, Tergat believes his failure to clinch the Olympic gold medal, especially in the 2,000 Sydney Games was the worst for him, but he found refuge in marathon where he became the first athlete to run under two hours and five minutes.

"It was a defining moment for me in Sydney, but I lost to Haile Gebrselassie by 0.09 of a second," Tergat told IAAF.

"At that point I was not sure if I could transition to the marathon but to later become the first man to run under 2:05 for the marathon was very special," he said.

But to lead Kenya in a different role is already taking toll on the former five-time world cross country champion.

His first mission will be to guide Kenya to the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in Australia in less than five months.

"It is about preparations and good planning. We must get our act right for us to succeed in this endeavor. Kenya must will more than 15 gold medals in track and field and there should never be any side shows," he said.

In the build-up to Rio Olympics in 2016, Kenya team had to do without training gear and team allowances, something Tergat said will be history.

"We have secured their gear from Nike and it will arrive early. I have been an athlete and know what it means to have somebody take care of your business," Tergat added.

Tergat enjoyed a prodigious career on the track, cross country and road, but one of his most memorable performances was a race in which he was beaten.

Here the Kenyan distance legend talks about being denied Olympic gold by just 0.09. So close yet so far.

"One of the defining moments of my career was my 10,000m silver medal at the Sydney Olympic Games. Going into that final, my form was good and I knew in my own mind it would be one of the last track races of my career before stepping up to the marathon.

"It was hard to accept losing by just 0.09. Maybe if I had competed in the 100m dash rather than the 10,000m it might have been easier to accept. Yet I was satisfied. I wished Haile all the best and told him that I would be moving up to the marathon. Haile and I became great friends. We still are today. After Sydney and the end of my track career, I actually became a better person and a better athlete." Enditem