“I don’t want to just participate; I believe I can win a medal” - Avinash Sable on his chances at Paris Olympics 2024

India’s 3000m steeplechase runner Avinash Sable recently created the national record for the record 10th time by clocking 8:09.01 seconds at the Paris Diamond League. He is confident of finishing on the podium at the forthcoming Paris Olympics 2024, scheduled to start on July 26.

It’s worth noting that Avinash clinched the Paris Olympics 2024 quota after surpassing the qualifying standard (8:15.00 seconds) at the Diamond League series in Silesia, Poland, in 2023, by clocking 8:11.63 seconds.

“I used to think Olympic medalists had a unique and difficult approach to training, but my experiences over the past two years have boosted my confidence. I don’t want to just participate; I believe I can win a medal,” Avinash Sable said on Jio Cinema’s ‘The Dreamers show’.

---

“My competition is with my timing” - Avinash Sable

The Asian Games gold medallist in 2023 revealed his role models as Milkha Singh, Sriram Singh, and PT Usha. Avinash Sable stated that his role models inspired him to excel on the world stage and is eager to improve his timing at the mega event in Paris.

“Their performances at the world level have deeply inspired me. If my role models can excel globally, so can I. I’ve been taught to focus on my own progress rather than others. My competition is with my timing,” he added in the same show.

Although Avinash missed out on the Asian Games in 2018 due to an ankle injury, he made a strong comeback in the National Open Championships, breaking the 37-year-old national record held by Gopal Saini of 8:30.88 seconds, clocking 8:29.80 seconds

Avinash broke the national record for the first time in 2018. Since then he has constantly pushed his limits, setting new records time and again.

In 2019, he registered another national record at the Federation Cup in March 2019 by clocking 8:28.94 seconds. He created another national record in the Commonwealth Games 2022 in Birmingham, clocking 8:11.20 seconds, and securing the silver medal.

Notably, that was the first time an athlete from outside Kenya secured a medal in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the Commonwealth Games since 1994.

---