Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto Races with One Shoe to Win Gold in Zurich, Switzerland [VIDEO]
![Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto Races with One Shoe to Win Gold in Zurich, Switzerland [VIDEO]](https://mwakilishi.com/sites/default/files/styles/max_1300x1300/public/2018-08/Conseslus-Kipruto.jpg?itok=jj2gb5VA)
Kenya's Conseslus Kipruto lit up the stadium after he raced with one shoe to retain his IAAF Diamond League 3,000m steeplechase gold crown in Zurich, Switzerland on Thursday.
The Olympic champion lost his shoe in the first lap but this did not stop him from going past Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco in the final few minutes of the race to win gold in 8:10.15.
“I am injured because I lost my left shoe. That was a mess. But motivated me to fight as hard as I could, so the race went well,” Kipruto said at the finish line.
The 24-year-old will take home $50,000 (Sh5 million) prize money for winning the race. This win comes fresh in the wake of another gold won at the African Senior Athletics Championships staged in Asaba Nigeria three weeks ago.
Conseslus is the reigning Olympic and World champion in the 3,000m steeplechase with a personal best of 8:00:12.
Comments (4)
Mungu alinena naye Musa iyo kiatu kivue..good work sir and 50k dolla ia all yours..me think too can run..
Talk of grit and guts.Running almost the whole race without one shoe ,simply amazing. You earned that diamond,and the fifty thousand dollars the hard way.The circuit is over get well,rest,and try to get the world championship back to Kenya.
C'mmon, this guy been running for most of his life without shoes now it is suddenly a big deal he ran without one shoe? He actually cheated cos he does much better without shoes. Let us stop the warthog memory and get back to our roots. Africans have always ran without shoes.
@ mugikuyu, we did not run without shoes,but also walked without shoes.But my religion science says that other than for esthetic reasons, shoes offer great protection.
In track and field, spikes offer better track to the ground.So it makes sense to wear them for running.Otherwise,you competitors would have an advantage.