Edmund Serem received messages of encouragement through texts and calls from his father and marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, which greatly impacted his podium finish at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo last month, the teenager said.
Serem won bronze in the men’s 3,000-metres steeplechase.
He, however, expressed regret that brother Amos could not compete due to an injury. “I believe we would have posted even better results if my elder brother had been there,” Serem said.
Geordie Beamish of New Zealand won gold in 8:33.88, followed by Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco in 8:33.95 and Serem in 8:34.56.
This was Serem’s second time competing in the senior category, after representing Kenya at the African Championships in Ghana last year, where he won a silver medal.
Geordie Beamish (centre) of New Zealand celebrates winning the gold medal in the men's 3000m steeplechase final with silver medallist Soufiane El Bakkali (right) of Morocco and bronze medallist Edmund Serem of Kenya during the World Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Tokyo on September 15, 2025.
Photo credit: Reuters
His father, Joseph Serem, sent him messages of encouragement from the time he landed in Japan until the day of the finals.
“Dad would send a message and follow it up with a call. He wanted to be sure I read his messages. He would text me early in the morning,” he said.
“In one of our conversations, my father asked me to do my best. He said the world was watching and waiting to see how I would perform. I felt so encouraged going into the race.”
He also mentioned that Kipchoge always made sure to offer him words of encouragement. On the day of the finals, Serem said that Kipchoge had called him, encouraging him to work hard to secure a spot on the podium. “Kipchoge is my mentor. He told me I should get the job done since I had already met most of my competitors in the race during the Diamond League meetings,” said Serem.
“On the day of the finals, he called me and asked me not to let him down. He said that I had received good training and that there was no reason for me to fail. After I won the bronze medal, he called again and said he’d been confident I would deliver good results. He was happy with my performance.”
The World Under-20 3,000-metre steeplechase champion said that, having made it to the podium in all the Diamond League races, he was confident that something special awaited him.
“With the messages and calls from my dad and Kipchoge, I felt I had no choice but to do well. So, I pushed myself. I am proud of my performance, and I look forward to better things ahead. I am also happy to have had the opportunity to represent Kenya at the global event,” said Serem.
“I was in good shape, and I was meeting a group I had competed with in the Diamond League series. That is why I didn’t feel any pressure. I had to fight hard to make it to the podium because the men of Team Kenya were being criticised on social media.”
Before the race, Serem said he had a discussion with his compatriot, Abraham Kibiwott, who advised him to run behind their rivals so they wouldn’t be used to setting the pace. “It worked well for us,” he said.
Germany's Frederik Ruppert and Kenya's Edmund Serem in action during the final.
Photo credit: REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel
Serem said his brother Amos’s absence affected his performance. “My morale was low. I wish he was there; we would have pushed each other and won more medals.” Amos, who won the 2021 World Under-20 Championship, suffered an injury early in the season, which prevented him from participating in the world championships.
Joseph, his father, said their family was thrilled when Serem secured a spot in the finals, especially since it was the most competitive one. “I prayed for my son every day. I wanted to see him make it to the finals. When he did, we knew he was going to be on the podium,” said the senior Serem, himself a former athlete who took part in short races and pole vault.
