Thai Distance Runner Kirin Shifts Focus to Full Marathon
Thai distance runner Kirin Tantivedh will skip the 2026 Asian Games and 2025 Southeast Asian Games to focus on marathon racing, potentially targeting the 2028 Olympics, leaving Thailand without medal contenders in long-distance track events
The Thai Athletics Association has announced the national team roster for the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan, with no Thai distance runners selected for long-distance events—notably excluding three-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Kirin Tantivedh, who won medals in the 1,500m, 5,000m, and 10,000m at the 33rd Games.
Surapong Ariyamongkol, a senior official and secretary-general of the Thai Athletics Association, revealed that Kirin will no longer compete in these distances, not only at this Asian Games but also at the 34th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia next year. She has indicated since June that she is shifting focus to full marathon competition, with her next appearance for Thailand likely coming at the 2028 Olympic Games if she qualifies in the marathon distance.
"Kirin is now targeting the marathon to compete in the United States, where prize money is substantial," Ariyamongkol explained. "We will certainly lose those three gold medals at both the Asian and Southeast Asian Games. We must acknowledge we lack distance runners at this level. Although we have marathon runners competing weekly in Thailand, running 5km or 10km is different from the marathon—the training methods differ, as do breathing techniques and the physical demands of racing for prize money at the international level."
