The Taekwondo duo landed in the Marseille Airport ahead of their three weeks training stint in Miramas in preparation for the Olympic qualifiers slated for February in Ivory Coast.
It’s a first-time experience for both and they are overly excited about their maiden trip to Europe.
Musangi narrated: “It’s my first time in Europe as well as attending an international camp since I joined the sport in 2021. This journey has been long. I have attended three international games in Rwanda, then in Nepal where I got a gold medal. Thanks to NOC-K who gave me that opportunity.”
Musangi believes that coming to Miramas will open a window of opportunities as well as help them to gain new skills considering that there are more taekwondo facilities in comparison to what Kenya has to offer.
“I am hoping I’ll be among those who will be taken for qualifiers in Ivory Coast in 2024. Faith (Ogallo) has been quite an inspiration for me. I have been with her since 2018 in campus. She motivated me to switch from netball to taekwondo. So, she has been my mentor all along. In Miramas, I expect to learn French because I find it difficult to pronounce their words and I am also expecting to sample their cuisine,” Musangi explained.
-Olympian Ogallo-
Ogallo, on the other hand, believes they’ll enjoy the three weeks in Miramas training to prepare for the journey to the Olympic qualifiers in February 2024.
Ogallo has singled out infrastructure as one of the issues derailing the African game and reckons that Miramas will come in handy because there is still a long way to go before the qualifiers.
The soft-spoken Olympian is also hoping that she will partake the Polish Open and Serbian Open in her bid to polish her skills further and gain the much-needed exposure.
Ogallo explained: “I am not sure if our visa will get us to Serbia. These are the two tournaments we have identified. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it for the Paris Grand Prix which is ongoing.”
She continued: “I didn’t qualify to make it to the Grand Prix draws because they had invited me for previous tournaments but I missed it, so I was denied the opportunity. But I don’t regret, if I get to get there at the venue, to just watch how my category is, I will be more than happy as it will also be could be a good learning experience.”
Ogallo will be gunning for her second Olympic ticket in Paris after her debut at the Tokyo 2020 Games.
And the fact that Kenya is yet to win any medal at the Summer Games, Ogallo is anticipating a podium given that opportunity.
“I know I will win a medal if I’m well prepared. We train for long without events. Apart from Rwanda where I took myself and won a bronze medal during the Africa Championships, there isn’t much we have had in terms of exposure.”
Ogallo is glad that Miramas will also present an opportunity to network.
Ogallo: “I have never been to Europe. This is my first time. It will be nice to have a taste of the French menu as I love the French fries. Kenyan food is also good but we are also here to feel the adventure.”
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