Florence Kiplagat has explained how she lost sponsors and became lazy after COVID-19 struck but disclosed that she is ready to make a running comeback.
Former world half marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat has explained how the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to her being lazy and unwilling to return to competitive running.
Kiplagat tried making a comeback at the 2023 Gold Coast Marathon but failed to impress when she finished sixth in a time of 2:36:29.
The 2019 world half marathon champion explained the struggles she has experienced trying to bounce back but noted that she has now placed all that behind and is ready to show the world her capabilities once again.
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“I have been lazy at home for all those years…I was never on my maternity leave but due to Corona, I never had anything to do but now I’m back and I’m really series. I went for Gold Coast but I performed poorly and cancelled every event I had signed up. I will be ready by August and I’m looking for a race in Indonesia,” she said.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games 10,000m silver medallist added that due to the Covid 19 pandemic, she lost a sponsor and she now competes sponsor less.
Kiplagat, however, is confident that when she runs well and wins her races, they will automatically be knocking at her door. The 2009 world cross country champion noted that she will be out to compete at one race in Indonesia before coming back to competition fully next year.
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“Now I don’t have a sponsor…when I run very well, automatically the sponsors will be there so I will market myself. I know I have to be first in the competitions. Sincerely, I was just lazy, I was not injured. There was a year, I had a long illness but now I’m okay,” Kiplagat added.