When Edmund Serem reflects on his early days in athletics, his words reveal not only the discipline of a young champion but also the deep family bond that shaped his path from an early age.

Speaking to Worldathletics.org, the young Kenyan highlights his father as the driving force behind his success. “It was always our father’s dream that my brother Amos and I would achieve what he couldn’t when he was younger. He used to tell us: ‘I don’t want you to lack the things I lacked,’” Serem says with heartfelt emotion.  

Fast runner

From the age of eight, Serem would accompany his older brother Amos to training sessions, often taking shorter routes but always finding ways to challenge him. “He would end up running faster just to catch me before I finished,” Serem recalls with a laugh. 

This sibling rivalry fuelled them both, even when unexpected challenges arose along the way.  “Whenever my brother and I run in the same race, he usually does very well,” says Serem. “I’m not sure if it’s because he doesn’t want me to beat him or because he feels stronger when I’m around, but I always look forward to competing against him.”  

While Amos trained under the renowned Patrick Sang, Edmund honed his craft at St Patrick’s Iten High School, home of legendary coach Brother Colm O’Connell, the Irishman who arrived in 1976 to teach geography for three months and went on to become the “godfather of Kenyan athletics”.

But Serem’s progress was initially hampered by the pandemic. “It was frustrating. I couldn’t compete, but I kept training because I knew my chance would come one day,” he explains.  

That dedication paid off when he seized his first big opportunity at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru. Following in the footsteps of his brother Amos, who won gold in Nairobi in 2021, Edmund claimed the steeplechase title in South America.

In a race that saw 12 of the 16 finalists set personal bests, Serem led a Kenyan 1-2 alongside Mathew Kosgei in 8:15.28. The time was not only the world’s fastest by a U20 athlete this year, but also the third-fastest ever by a U18 runner. 

Supportive father

Like any champion, Serem’s journey began long before his triumphs on the world stage. He fondly recalls the mornings when his father would take them to local competitions with training gear and unwavering enthusiasm. “He would even build hurdles at home so we could practice. He was so meticulous, always finding the safest terrain to avoid injury,” says Serem, speaking with deep admiration for his father.  

His father’s dedication and his brother’s example keep him focused on what lies ahead. “When I run, I’m not just running for myself. I am running for my family and for Kenya. My father reminds me that this is bigger than me,” he says with determination.

It is a mindset that has made Serem an inspiration to the next generation of Kenyan athletes, something the country’s sporting authorities have already recognised.

Serem recently attended a meeting with Kenya’s Sports Cabinet Secretary, Onesimus Kipchumba Murkomen, and senior Athletics Kenya officials. Discussions focused on strategic plans to regain dominance in the 3000m steeplechase, an event that Kenya has dominated for nearly five decades. “They asked us to lead the change. My brother and I are ready for the challenge. We want the world to see Kenya as the powerhouse it has always been,” Serem told Worldathletics.org.

The road ahead will be challenging, but Serem’s confidence is undeniable. After a season of multiple medals and near qualification for the Olympic team, he now has his sights set on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo. “First I have to qualify. It’s step by step. But I know I can go far if I keep working like this,” he says.  

Every morning as he trains in Kaptagat, just 600 metres from his brother Amos’ camp, Edmund Serem’s story continues to unfold. At just 16, with a clear dream and a family legacy pushing him forward, it’s hard not to imagine him achieving greatness in the years to come. And when he does, it will be the realisation of not just his dream, but the unwavering belief of an entire family.