Hurting Kiprop slams critics after tactics cost him medal in Rio
After a poor performance at the Rio Olympics, three time 1,500 metres world champion Asbel Kiprop has slammed Kenyans over their criticism, insisting that fans should go easy on him.
A hurting Kiprop, who came a distant sixth in the 1,500 metres race clocking 3:50.87, said that Kenyans should spare him the ridicule as he has done well for the country in the past.
He was quick to cite his past imperious performances.
American Mathew Centrowitz won the race in 3:50:00, while Algerian’s Taoufik Makhloufi took silver in 3:50.11 followed by New Zealand’s Nicholas Willis in 3:50.24.
In a post on his Facebook Timeline, Kiprop who won gold in Beijing in 1,500 metres in 2008, said:
After his poor show at the Rio event, Kiprop had come under heavy criticism after his tactics cost him a medal.
He had been tipped as a medal prospect owing to his vast experience and past heroics.
Besides a hat- trick of gold medals in world championship in 2011, 2013 and 2015, the soft spoken Kiprop has also claimed podium finishes in African Championship in Nairobi in 2010 and at the All Africa- Games in Algiers in 2007.
The Olympic Games ended on Sunday with Kenya bagging 13 medals; six gold, six silver and a bronze.
