Finally! After four months of stress and uncertainty, Leonard Korir is heading to the Olympics. Just last week, World Athletics added one universality place and four rankings places to the Olympic marathon field on Tuesday. With that, Korir gets the United States’ final spot – thanks to CJ Albertson’s ranking unlocking it – and he will be racing on Aug. 10th.

Korir was third at the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, which was awesome because he had just missed the U.S. Olympic marathon team for Tokyo by just three seconds. This will be his second Olympic team after representing the United States in the 10,000m in Rio de Janeiro back in 2016.

Following the Trials, Korir went to Rotterdam in April in hopes of getting under the Olympic standard but faded in the second half of the race to a 2:12:47 finish. We discuss that race, his preparations for Paris and why this means a lot not just to him but also to his fellow members of the U.S. Army.

We waited until it was official to get Lenny on the podcast. Now we’ve completed the set. We have podcasts with all six of the U.S. Olympians for Paris + the two alternates (Jess McClain and Elkanah Kibet, who have amazing stories) – you can go back and listen to those race recaps and reflections.

The following interview excerpt has been edited lightly for clarity. You can listen to the full interview with Leonard Korir on the CITIUS MAG Podcast – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows.

CITIUS MAG: Now that you've had a few months to reflect on it, what stands out to you about your race at the Olympic Marathon Trials?

Leonard Korir: In a marathon, anything can happen. Even in the last 800. If somebody is strong and coming from behind, you can still make it. I was telling myself, ‘Those guys are gone. One, two, three – gone. Let me try to finish fourth. Let me try to finish fifth…’ I was able to have that strength, that finish. And I found myself finishing fast. So even though I knew I didn't understand it, I was telling myself that finishing third is still a good performance for me for my future career.”

CITIUS MAG: How did you prepare for Orlando? Everyone was talking beforehand about how hot it was going to be and that it was going to be fast. If it was flat and fast, that's good for you. If it was hot, it sounds like you were like, ‘It is what it is.’

Leonard Korir: It wasn’t hot for me in Orlando. I heard people saying that it was going to be hot, but for me it was not too hot. It was a perfect race. It was a loop and it was flat. I'd say it was just like another race. It was just a normal race. It was just something like, you go out there and try to make the team, just finish top three. See what happens. So I’d say it was just a normal race like any other race…

It's always good to have a positive mindset going into a race. Don't stress too much. Don't think about it. Just go to your team training, believe in your training, believe in what you have been doing. If you are not injured, I think you're good to go.

CITIUS MAG: What does qualifying for the Olympics mean to you? You did it in 2016, you came close in 2020, and now you finally got it again. We saw your emotion at the finish line – grabbing the flag and celebrating afterwards. It clearly means a lot to you.

Leonard Korir: It means a lot to me. Especially to all my teammates and my leadership in the army. If you make the Olympics while you are in the army, it's a huge accomplishment. Making these Olympics is not only for me. It's about people serving in the army. All those people in the army. Also, it's about my teammates. When I make the team I know my teammates will also want to make the team because I am one of the leaders in our platoon. If you see the leader making the team, you want to make it too. It's a cool thing, a huge thing for me being in the army, making the team. It's not about me. It's about representing other people who are looking up to me. I'm so happy. I'm grateful. I can't wait to represent Team USA and represent the army too.

CITIUS MAG: Do you believe that you’re still capable of lowering your marathon time? Down the road, if you get another fast, flat opportunity, is that something you want to chase?

Leonard Korir: It's possible. To run fast is very possible. Other people are running 2:01, 2:02, easy. So running at least 2:06, 2:05, I think it’s possible. You just need to train your mind, be consistent with training, stay healthy, and don't get injured. I believe I can still go fast. I still have an opportunity.

CITIUS MAG: What do the next couple weeks look like for you? What do you want to accomplish in your training to be ready for the Olympics?

Leonard Korir: Right now, don't change too much. Let's continue training. Don't worry too much. It's the Olympics. It's a tactical race. Don't do crazy workouts, because then you get injured. Don’t do too much and then get tired during the race. Just go there, train, and then run. Do your best. You never know. You might be at 40K and you are in front of the lead pack. So let's just be positive and see what happens.

Time Stamps:

• 5:44 - How he’s feeling after officially qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team.
• 7:56 - How he and his coach structured his training after the Olympic Marathon Trials.
• 10:07 - Reflecting on his race at the Marathon Trials.
• 14:12 - What qualifying for his second Olympic team means to him.
• 15:44 - How he fits in his training while serving in the army.
• 17:21 - How training has been going leading into the Olympics.
• 19:40 - His running career trajectory.
• 23:06 - Thoughts on the Olympic Marathon course.
• 28:28 - His goals and mindset for the Olympic Marathon.

Listen to the full interview with Leonard Korir on the CITIUS MAG Podcast – available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your shows.