ATLANTA -- He is watching the Olympics in Rio from his television, but in 2000 Rich Kenah found himself on Team USA and running the 800M.
Rich Kenah is now the executive director of the Atlanta Track Club. In 1997 he earned the bronze medal in both the indoor and outdoor world championships. Three years later, Kenah qualified to head to Sydney and represent the USA in the 2000 games.
Kenah said he tried to make the team two previous times, before finally earning his spot on the roster. It is one just one reason he knows how important the close finishes can be when running on track's biggest stages.
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"Right here in Atlanta in 1996 I missed the team by a tenth-of-a-second. A year later at the world outdoor championships I won a bronze medal by a hundredth-of-a-second, then ultimately made the team in 2000 by two-tenths-of-a-second," Kenah said. "So the increment of time is pretty small and to draw on a cliche you don't want to count your chickens before they hatch. Until you get across that line, get that plane ticket to the Olympic games it is a big question mark for you."
Even though Kenah didn't medal in Sydney, he said it was an experience he worked his whole life to earn. His family watched from the stands as he ran in the 800M race.
As Kenah now watches the games from home, he admits he might watch differently than the average viewer. He still keeps a very close eye on the mechanics and little details a non-runner might miss, but he also enjoys the story lines behind the races.
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"My personal favorite and great story is Meb Keflezigh, who is in the marathon" Kenah said. "Already won an Olympic medal, already run here in Atlanta in the Peachtree, already won the New York City Marathon. He embodies what that US American athlete story is all about. So I'm looking forward to watching him in the marathon."
The 100 and 1500M race are two other events the former Olympian is excited to watch during the Rio Olympics.
For young runners watching the track and field events, Kenah hopes the Olympics can inspire future runners to compete for a spot on team USA.
"My first race I was last. I was so far back, it was a road race in Newark, New Jersey," Kenah recalled. "My father was in a police car looking for me. There was no hint of Olympic success. So for those young kids that are inspired by the Olympics in Rio, it is not that far-fetched to think you could be there someday."
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