Moraa Eyes Tokyo Triumph After Olympic Bronze

Mary Moraa, the Olympic 800m bronze medalist, is setting her sights on the 2025 Tokyo World Championships following her commendable performance at the Paris Olympics. With the Tokyo Championships scheduled from September 13 to 24, Moraa is poised to improve her standings and surpass the 1:59.00 qualification mark. The qualification period spans from August 1 to 24, 2025, giving athletes a narrow window to secure their spots.

Reflecting on her recent performance in Paris, Moraa has shown remarkable progress since her last Olympic outing in Tokyo. In Paris, she clocked a personal best of 1:57.42, securing the bronze medal behind Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson (1:56.72) and Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma (1:57.15). This achievement underscores her evolution as a formidable middle-distance runner and fuels her optimism for Tokyo.

“It has been a long time since the Tokyo Games. I trained hard to ensure that this time my performance would be better,” Moraa remarked. Her resilience and dedication to the sport have been evident since her earlier Olympic appearance in Tokyo, where she was eliminated in the semifinals, placing third in heat three with a time of 2:00.47. The disappointment of Tokyo has been a catalyst for her success in Paris.

Moraa credits her coach, Alex Sang, for his instrumental role in her Olympic journey. “My coach has been key to my progress. He has helped me overcome my disappointment in Tokyo to succeed in Paris. I was aiming for gold in Paris but the coach told me a podium finish would be okay,” she shared. The guidance and support from her coach have been crucial in transforming her Olympic aspirations into tangible achievements.

While her sights were set on gold in Paris, Moraa is content with securing a podium finish. “My target going to Paris was to win gold. I can’t complain about that because an Olympic medal is a huge deal for me,” she acknowledged. This attitude reflects her maturity and sportsmanship, focusing on her accomplishments rather than dwelling on what could have been.

As Moraa prepares for the Tokyo World Championships, her determination to deliver even stronger performances on the global stage is palpable. “From Paris, I am going back to the drawing board and very soon I promise good results in the coming championships,” she stated. Her commitment to refining her techniques and strategies indicates her ambition to excel in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, African silver medalist Lilian Odira is also gearing up for a stronger showing in Tokyo. After narrowly missing out on the Paris Olympic finals, finishing fourth in her semifinal with a time of 1:58.53, Odira is motivated to improve. “I am looking forward to the Tokyo Championships. I already qualify. I have to work hard to ensure I am in the team for the World Championships and be able to do better in Tokyo,” she expressed.

Making her Olympic debut in Paris, Odira described the experience as a learning curve. “It was a nice experience. I thank God I was able to make my Olympic debut. I was not able to make the finals but I lowered my time which is a good improvement for me,” she noted. Her sights are set on the 2028 Los Angeles Games, where she hopes to leverage her experience for better results.

“My ultimate target is to ensure I make the next Olympics and hopefully produce better results on the global stage,” Odira emphasized. Both Moraa and Odira’s journeys reflect the perseverance and dedication of athletes striving for excellence in the world of sports. As they prepare for Tokyo, their stories serve as inspiration for aspiring athletes worldwide.