TEENAGE middle distance sensation James Sugira has revealed that he wants to emulate his role model and world record holder in the men’s 800m David Rudisha of Kenya. 

The 17-year old athlete began his one-year long training programme at the Eldoret High Performance Training Centre in Kenya yesterday courtesy of funding from the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF).

He admitted training at the facility it was a dream comes true.

"Training at this centre is a dream come true. I enjoyed the first training session alongside Asbel Kiprop and David Rudisha will join us soon. I want to be like him. He is the best in the world and I am training alongside him every day for a year! I am going to work so hard,” Sugira told Times Sport. The Kamonyi-born runner has just completed his A’Level examinations at Groupe Scolaire Remera-Rukoma in Kamonyi District and and is looking to a successful year in athletics.

Sugira is the first Rwandan to train at the prestigious athletics centre.

The teenager posted 3:47.28 in the boys’ 1500m event at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, China last year, a personal best. He is currently ranked eighth in the world.

According to his coach John Peter Ndacyayisenga, the youngster will use the first two months to prepare for the 3000m event at the 2015 Africa Junior Athletics Championships in Ethiopia due March 5-8.

Sugira will then switch to 5000m training in preparation for the All Africa Games in the Republic Congo scheduled for September 4-19.

In Kiprop and Rudisha, Sugira will train with the world’s best middle distance athletes who command enviable status and respect at the international level. Kiprop, who specialises in the 1500m distance, struck gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as clinching the 2011 and 2013 World Championships titles.

He is the reigning 800m Olympic gold medalist.

He won gold at the 2011 World championships in Daegu, South Korea and settled for silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland after he was stunned by Botswana’s Nijel Amos.

Kiprop’s personal best is 3:27.72 while Rudisha’s world record stands at 1:40.91.

Sugira has been identified as Rwanda’s next sensation long distance runner who could change his country’s fortunes at the international level.

"I want to work on my acceleration, speed and endurance and to make sure I beat my personal best in both the 800m and 1500m (3:47.28),” Sugira said.

Rwanda is yet to win an Olympic medal since joining the Olympic movement in 1984.