Kenya’s latest steeplechase sensation, Edmund Serem, is turning headlines into lessons for the next generation. Fresh from a breakthrough season that vaulted him onto the global stage, Serem distilled his journey into a clear, electrifying message: work hard, stay consistent, persevere—and when the gun goes, trust your training and believe in yourself.
From junior champion to global contender
Serem’s rise has been rapid and relentless. After claiming the world U20 title in 2024, the teenager burst into senior competition in 2025 with a string of eye-catching performances.
He smashed personal bests, dipping under 8:10 and then 8:05 in the 3000m steeplechase, and produced podium finishes across the circuit—fourth in Xiamen, runner-up in Shaoxing/Keqiao, third in Rabat, and a home victory at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi.
His season crescendoed with a second-place finish at the Diamond League final in Zurich and a historic bronze at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, making him the youngest male individual medallist in the event’s history.
“Work hard, be consistent, have perseverance. And when you are in that race, have confidence, believe in your training, and trust your coach; have faith that you can do it.”
A season to remember
Monaco was a defining moment: Serem clocked a personal best of 8:04.00, catapulting him to fifth on the world U20 all-time list.
Reflecting on the whirlwind year, he told World Athletics media that competing in the Diamond League and breaking key time barriers felt like the opening chapter of a long career. “This year will be the start of my future; I’ll be remembering this year,” he said, eyes already on what comes next.
Family, mentors, and the Kaptagat forge
Behind the medals is a story of sacrifice and support.
Serem credits his father—who once dreamed of athletics but lacked the chance to pursue it—for ensuring both Edmund and his older brother Amos, the 2021 world U20 steeplechase champion, never went without. “My father has provided Amos and me with everything,” Serem said, echoing a family vow to spare the next generation the hardships of the last.
On the training front, Serem sharpens his craft under coach Patrick Sang in Kaptagat, often alongside his brother, and draws inspiration from marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge, whom he regards as a mentor.
Hungry for more and focused on the future
Recognition from World Athletics has only intensified Serem’s appetite for success. Awards and accolades, he says, are fuel—not the destination.
“What matters most is the hard work, the support, and the belief in yourself and your coach,” he reflected, underscoring a humility that belies his meteoric rise.
Next stops Glasgow and Oregon
With the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on the horizon and a title defense planned at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Oregon 26, Serem is already sketching the next chapter. As he chases more medals, his message to aspiring athletes remains simple and potent: train with purpose, trust the process, and run with conviction.
