Long distance runner Gervais Hakizimana will compete in this year’s London Marathon scheduled for April 24—to become the second Rwandan to do so after Mathias Ntawurikura in 2000.

Based in France, Hakizimana 28, under management of Philippe Plancke, is currently undergoing intensive training as he prepares to make his debut in the prestigious London Marathon, where he will be seeking to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games scheduled for August 5-21 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

"My target in London is to earn a ticket to Rio, it will be a tough race against the world’s renowned athletes, but I won’t be intimidated by that. So far so good in training, I am feeling really great,” he told Times Sport from France.

If the APR athletics club runner Hakizimana, who also runs Steeplechase in France, qualifies for the Rio Olympics, he will become the third Rwandan marathoner to qualify for the World’s biggest sports event after Jean Baptiste Simukeka and Claudette Mukasakindi.

At this year’s London Marathon, Hakizimana, the only Rwandan in the race, will face stiff challenge from Kenyan and Ethiopian elites such as Eliud Kipchoge, Dennis Kimetto, Wilson Kipsang, Endshaw Negesse, Stanley Biwott and Bekele Kenenisa among others.

Apart from Simukeka and Mukasakindi, the other Rwandans, who have so far qualified for Rio are; Janvier Hadi (Road race cycling) and Nathan Byukusenge (Mountain Bike) as well as Paralympian Hermas Cliff Muvunyi .

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