Having placed on the podium at the last two global championships, Paul Chelimo is in prime position to take over from Mo Farah as the dominant track endurance runner.

The charismatic American has the confidence to match his talent too.

The Kenyan-born runner began 2017 with a new year resolution to not lose any races. Although he ultimately failed, he is targeting the same next year, hoping improved strength and greater experience will be key in making him the world’s best on the track now Farah has moved to the marathon.

“Next year definitely my goal is to try not to lose any races,” said the 27-year-old. “I sill have the same goals. Now Mo is out, once I get a set plan and get the winning formula it’s easier to win. Once I get my strength to the level that I want, it’s game over.”

The man who won 5000m Olympic silver behind Mo Farah in 2016 and bronze behind Muktar Edris and the Brit over the same distance at the 2017 Worlds believes he is lacking in endurance. To that end, he is focused on the 3000m at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham next spring.

“At 3000m when it becomes really fast I can still kick well,” said Chelimo, who was seventh at the 2016 World Indoors. “I’m way better in the 3000m than 5000m. At 5000m I haven’t got enough strength. I just need to build more strength in a 5km race, I should be relaxed the whole way until the last lap.”

The other missing link for Chelimo is experience, he believes. “As years go by I’m getting stronger. It’s just the little things that I would have needed to have beaten Mo, but he has way more experience,” he said. “He has been in this game for a long time. It took him a long time to medal. He’s been through that process. He knows what to do to get a medal.

“That was the big difference between me and Mo these two years. I’m coming on to the racing scene. I came from college two years ago and in both my championships I’ve medalled. Mo has been through tough times. He knows how to play the game but for me, I’m still learning how to play the game and that’s where the difference comes in.”

He reckons better tactical awareness could have seen him win gold in London this year. “What I could have done differently is positioning myself towards the end,” he said. “[Also] I wanted to win the World Championships so bad and I trained really hard and I think when the World Championships came around I wasn’t well recovered.”

However, for him, it is all a learning process. “I’ve only been a professional runner two years and I’ve medalled in two championships, so I can’t ask for anything better,” he said. “I’m just going to go back and keep learning and make changes. If I can’t learn from it, there’s no way I’m going to be a champion. Things happen for a reason.”

Chelimo knows his PB of 13:03.90 does not reflect his ability. Therefore, along with winning World Indoors gold, breaking 13 minutes is his big goal for next year.

“I’m way ahead of training [this autumn], preparing early, building more strength so when I get into a race I should be ready to handle any type of pace,” he said.

Soldier first, athlete later

The story of his nationality switch is an unusual one. Born in Iten, he attended university in the United States and then, as a member of the army, gained expedited citizenship and in June 2015 was given clearance to represent his new country. He serves as a water treatment specialist.

He said giving up his Kenyan nationality was a big decision but added: “A big part of it was that the United States has been there for me. They paid for my scholarship for four years and the best was I could give back was serving in the military.

“My job is a soldier first and an athlete later. It’s no easy task. You could get called upon to defend the nation, I’m always ready for it. I’ve represented Kenya and I’ve represented United States and it’a big difference, that’s all I can say.”

As an elite-level runner, he is able to be part of the US Army’s World Class Athlete Program and says that has been key in his development. “The World Class Athlete Program has always been there for me,” he said. “They have always given me that support. Without it, I wasn’t going to be able to expose my talent and do great the way I’m doing right now.”

While a number of athletes have been accused of transferring citizenship to make it easier to qualify for major championships, Chelimo claims it is tougher to make teams in the USA as, although the Kenyans may be able to run the faster times, they lack tactical ability.

“I could make the Kenyan team any time,” he said. “If I wake up today and say I want to make the Kenyan team it’s easier than [making] the American team.”

Some may disagree. However, what is certain is that with United States distance running on the up, particularly after recent World Marathon Majors wins for Galen Rupp and Shalane Flanagan, Chelimo is at the forefront as the USA leads the challenge to the African dominance.