Geay uncertain to feature in Paris Olympic Games
What you need to know:
- Geay , who is now suffering from an ankle injury and undergoing treatment , said his participation in Paris Games Would depend on his improvement
Dar es Salaam. The participation of prominent runner Gabriel Geay in the Paris Olympic Games hangs in the balance due to an injury.
This is according to Tanzania Team physician Eliasa Mkongo who said Geay had picked up an injury while training despite the fact he will travel to Paris.
Mkongo said Geay is now receiving treatment and his participation in the Paris Games will depend on his improvement.
"Given his current condition and the remaining days before the marathon race, there is a high possibility that his health will improve and he will be able to run. Let’s wait on that,” said Mkongo.
Geay is among the four athletes who qualified for representing the country in this season's Olympics. The others are Alphonce Simbu, Magdalena Shauri, and Jackline Sakilu, who will race on August 10 and 11.
However, the athletes will leave the country on August 7 for Paris, while the other Tanzanian teams of judo and swimming have already left for Paris.
"He has had these injuries for two weeks, which is common for long-distance runners. Geay is experiencing pain, but not at a severe level. He feels pain after training, and the ankle area swells.
"On the day the team was seen off (last Friday) without Geay as he was undergoing some tests, including an MRI. After consultation, the athlete himself was ready to represent his country in the Olympics,” he said.
Mkongo also advised the runner to rest a bit, and it was seen fit for him to travel with the team because, in France, he said, there are all kinds of doctors, who will give him the opportunity to undergo all necessary tests. He said they hope he will compete in the marathon race.
For his part, Tanzania Olympic Committee (TOC) Secretary-General Filbert Bayi said they had advised him to travel while continuing to recover, and he might be fine by the time his race starts.
"We received his injury report the day the team was seen off. We knew he was continuing training, and the final preparation money for those funded by Olympic solidarity, including Geay, was given two weeks ago," he said.
He stated that for long-distance runners, it is not surprising to experience leg pains, and many recover when they rest.
"When we were informed that Geay had these injuries, we sent a doctor to Arusha to take tests to see how we could help him recover. The doctor advised he should go with the team to Paris, where there are all kinds of doctors, and there's a possibility he will recover by the race day," he said.
TOC president Gulam Rashid said Geay's trip to Paris is to see if he will recover and receive additional medical treatment while there.
"Whether he runs or not that will depend on his health condition. His travel arrangements have been made, and even if he doesn't go, it won't affect anything.
"Even if he doesn't participate in his race, it will be a good opportunity for him to meet with doctors there to further assess his health. We know Geay is on the journey, and we can't lose anything even if he doesn't go to Paris," said Gulam.
