Day 5 - World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 — Josh Kerr in action at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 (Source: Getty Images)

"Putting in the final preparations"- Josh Kerr fuels anticipation as gears up for Paris Olympics in a quest for his first gold medal

Modified Jul 21, 2024 03:52 GMT

Josh Kerr has maintained a low profile in his Olympic Games preparations as he gears up for an epic clash against his serial track rivals. Kerr will be returning to the Olympic stage after a third-place finish at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

In his quest for his first Olympic gold medal, Josh Kerr has entered the final stretch of the preparations, sharing the update on his Instagram handle.

The reigning world champion shared a photo going through a physiotherapy session. Josh Kerr was keen to insist on attention to detail since that was a crucial stage, with just 11 days to the Olympic Games opening ceremony.

Kerr captioned the photo:

"Attention to Detail. Putting in the final preparations before we head to Paris."

Josh Kerr has raced sparingly so far this season, winning the gold medal in the men’s 3000m at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, United Kingdom.

The Olympic Games 1500m bronze medallist competed in the 800m at the Oregon Relays where he claimed top honors in 1:45.94. Kerr then raced at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, Oregon.

The 26-year-old defeated Jakob Ingebrigtsen to take the crown in 3:45.34 in the men’s mile. With his time, Kerr set a national record, breaking Steve Cram's 39-year-old British mile record and becoming the sixth-fastest man over the distance.

Ingebrigtsen was forced to finish second in 3:45.60 as the United States' Yared Nuguse completed the podium, clocking 3:46.22.

Kerr competed in the men’s 800m at the UK Athletics Championships but he stumbled in the final and was forced to finish seventh in 1:53.96. He has yet to compete in a 1500m race this season and will seemingly make his season debut at the Olympic Games.

Why Josh Kerr has raced sporadically in the build-up to the Paris Olympic Games

Josh Kerr at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023 (Source: Getty Images)

Josh Kerr has not been a frequent starter in many races this season as he insists on a cautious approach to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The Scot is yet to compete in a 1500m race and has only raced the 800m thrice. He was in action in the one mile at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene where he claimed top honors.

Kerr has raced thrice in the indoor races, going unbeaten in the World Indoor Championships and the Millrose Games. Speaking during an interview with Athletics Weekly, Kerr noted that he is trying as much as possible to avoid injuries at all costs.

"We are now within a month of the Olympic Games and injuries and illness are going to take a real toll in the buildup. For example, the environment at World Indoors is filled with people who are walking a red line of fitness, illness and injury – it’s a pretty intense atmosphere. I didn’t think it was worth the risk," Kerr said.

"I had raced enough for me and I wasn’t willing to go out and compete for those medals on an Olympic year. If I went out and won gold it wouldn’t mean too much to me this year if it didn’t follow the bigger goal," he added.

Kerr now looks forward to racing at the Olympic Games and improving on his bronze medal at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. He will be lining up against some of the top 1500m runners, including Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Yared Nuguse.