Samson Ojuka: Paralympian and upcoming lawyer
What you need to know:
- When I was born, I weighed around 5.6 kilogrammes. It was impossible for me to be removed from my mother's womb, so the doctors decided to break my arm so that I would stand a chance.
- It also affected my leg, so that's how I got the disability. Throughout my life I've been living with this disability, but it didn't stop me from participating in sports.
- I used to play with other children as usual. I have always wanted to be a sportsperson.
Samson Ojuka, 28, is a para athlete who competes in sprints and long jump. He played football at Maseno School as a striker, but switched to athletics after he learned about paralympic sports when he joined Kenyatta University to pursue Bachelor of Law in 2018.
The second-born child in a family of four is the African long jump record holder after he won silver at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games with a 6.20metres jump. The jump made Ojuka the first ever Kenyan to win a medal in long jump in the history of paralympics.
With all your accomplishments, it is hard to tell that you are living with a disability…
It is called Erbs Palsy. The classification for it in athletics is T37. It's an impairment on the arm and on the foot. I was not born with the condition. When I was born, I weighed around 5.6 kilogrammes. It was impossible for me to be removed from my mother's womb, so the doctors decided to break my arm so that I would stand a chance. It also affected my leg, so that's how I got the disability. Throughout my life I've been living with this disability, but it didn't stop me from participating in sports. I used to play with other children as usual. I have always wanted to be a sportsperson.
When did you start your athletics journey?
In 2017 while I was in high school. Initially I played football for my school and afterwards I joined the sub-county league playing as a striker with Komarock All Stars in Nairobi.
Who do you consider your role model in sports?
I have many role models. From sprinting, in Kenya, I look up to African 100 metres record holder Ferdinand Omanyala because I started as a sprinter. In long jump, it is former American sprinter and long jumper Carl Lewis. I like their resilience and success in their careers.
What challenges have you encountered so far in your sports career?
As paralympians we don't get as many endorsements and sponsorships as the able-bodied persons. Additionally, when it comes to employment opportunities, para-athletes are not given priority. Para-athletes have to struggle so much even to get training facilities, coaches and equipment.
What's your big dream as a para athlete?
I already achieved one of my dreams, which was to break the African record. I did so by winning silver at this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris. I’m now aiming to break the world record which is just over 50 centimetres shy of my personal best (6.20 metres).
How did it feel to win Kenya’s only medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics?
The medal was a consolation for us as a country. I did not expect to get a medal or an African record. I was just hoping to do my best but in the process, God had his own plans and I won the silver medal.
You will be graduating with a law degree at Kenyatta University in December, how do you manage to pursue both sports and academics?
It is really difficult to juggle between the two. I consider sports a full-time job, yet a course such as law requires you to be committed to your studies. Juggling these two has been a struggle for me but I hope to achieve the best in both. I train for three days every week and concentrate on my studies for three days. When I'm on the field, I give my full attention to training and I do the same with my studies.
Tell us about how the law degree you are taking is helping you as an athlete...
This course is my retirement plan. After retirement, I hope to combine sport-related activities with the legal aspect of things because in law, there is sports laws that I can pursue as a career.
You must have been rewarded by the government for your efforts at the Paris 2024 Paralympics?
I cannot talk about that. But, what I can say is that I have financial advisors and financial managers that will help me utilise the cash award properly.
Has your family been supportive of your sports career?
Always. They support me financially, emotionally, spiritually although my dad Moses Ojuka and mother Martha Ojuka did not participate in sports when they were young. Before competing in Paris, they really encouraged me. And now that I'm pushing for the world at the 2026 Paralympics, they are fully behind me.
How did they celebrate your win at the Paralympics? Were your classmates happy for you?
The university supported me by waiving part of my school fees and I thank them for that. Additionally, they kept me posting me on their social media pages which gave me a really nice feeling. As for my family, we went out for a family celebration when I came back from Paris.
Paris 2024 Parlympic long jump gold medallist Brian Lionel Impellizzeri must have said something to motivate you after you came second…
He cannot motivate me because he is my opponent. But I know he was shocked that I was got the silver medal. Ahead of the Paris Games, my competitions and performances had not been that impressive. It was only in the Paris games that I really came up. So I think he feels challenged. I just aim to do better and better. I managed to get the medal because of intense training. I used to get a lot of injuries because of over-training, but I kept putting in the hard work. I used to train three times a day, every day. Even on the days when I was supposed to rest, I was still training. This is what led to my success.
Tell us about your best moments in athletics…
Winning the silver medal at the Paris 2024 Paralympics is the best moment for me. I'm glad I've joined the elite and the few members who have Olympic medals.
