Timothy Cheruiyot gives hilarious tale of his first flight

Timothy Cheruiyot has recounted his first experience on a plane, disclosing that he could not sleep throughout the flight.

The 2019 world 1500m champion’s first international event was the 2015 World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas after a challenging trials phase.

“I remember when I had just started running, there was a World relay team being selected in Kasarani and Athletics Kenya were the ones running the event in 2015,” Cheruiyot said on the Safari za Mabingwa show.

“We did the trials in the evening and I was hopeful I would make the team but I didn’t make the cut because my competitor hit my baton and I could not proceed and I went home crying. However, God helped me and I went for a weekend meeting in Nakuru and I was very angry and I clocked a stadium record on the murram stadium and AK decided to call me to the team,” he added.

Cheruiyot was then left with a few days to the trip and had to hasten the process of getting a passport, which was processed in four days.

The reigning Olympic Games 1500m silver medallist disclosed that during the flight, he was nervous and could not sleep. However, seeing his compatriots eat gave him confidence to try out the food on the plane.

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Growing up in Bomet, Cheruiyot had never been to an airport and the whole experience left him star-struck. They went ahead and finished second in the distance medley and he was surprised by the amount of money he earned. He used the money to build his own house, his parents' home, and the rest of the money for his training gear.

“We had very few days to go to the Bahamas and I did not have a passport but it came within four days. I did not believe that I would and I had to board the plane first to know that I was actually going abroad for the first time in my life,” he added.

“I grew up in Bomet and had been to Nairobi before but I didn’t stay here for long. That wa the first time I was going to the airport and I did not believe my eyes. I felt an upset in my stomach and had to hold the seat tight.

“I did not sleep throughout the flight but I ate something because I saw my compatriots eating. The flight was about 18 hours but we had a stop over at Dubai before we left. We went and finished second and we were paid well.”