Sheila Wanyonyi: The visually impaired athlete shattering records

When did you start javelin throw?

It was in January 2022 when I learned how to hold a javelin spear while I was a student at Kenyatta University. I have also played goalball throughout my life since I was a child. Goalball is a team sport designed specifically for athletes with vision impairment.

What inspired you to take up javelin throw?

Before taking up javelin throw, I was very afraid of it. I had this idea that it was a very dangerous sport. In primary school, I didn't know how to hold a javelin stick, so I took part in discus throw. But when I entered campus, Dr. Samwel Litaba introduced me to Paralympic sports.

He is a coach at Kenyatta University. There are 10 eligible impairment types in Para Athletics and I found myself in classes T12 (track) and F12 (field) for visually impaired athletes. Classification is important to ensure athletes compete fairly with competitors with a similar level of vision or other impairments.

F12 doesn't have discus throw, but there is javelin throw. It was a dare, since many people are afraid of it. I made the national team in javelin throw for the first time last year.  

Do you have someone you look up to in javelin throw?

Yes. Norwegian former javelin thrower Andreas Thorkildsen is my role model. What inspires me is his consistency and resilience. I read about him and his success from being a champion to performing poorly. He wasn't discouraged by the slump in performance. He went back to the drawing board to work on himself and came back bigger and stronger. His techniques of throwing javelin are still used by coaches to train to date.

What difficulties have you encountered in javelin throw?

Balancing sports and academics can be a big challenge. However, it became easier to concentrate on sports when I finished school. Unfortunately, I can't now use the javelin facilities that were available for free at the university. Nowadays, I have to pay for the gym and other javelin facilities which is expensive. Another big challenge now is venues to train now that internationally-recognised facilities at Kasarani and Nyayo are closed for renovation. We now have to find a corner or someplace to train. It’s dangerous.

What benefits have you seen in taking part in sports?

When you go to championships, you meet new people, make friends, and learn new things from each other. When I traveled for the first time, I got some allowance. Allowances help us to get bus fare to and from training venues, pay rent, buy food, and go to different places. Sports also help us to keep fit.

Are there lessons you have learned from sports?

To be disciplined. When you are an athlete, you have to eat certain foods. Additionally, it makes you think widely. You start to have new goals. When I went to Tunisia, I thought I could go and get silver. But after that, I targeted gold. So it helps you to open up, and also to avoid peer pressure, drug abuse, and being idle.

How supportive is your family in your sports journey?

I'm the last-born and the only one in the family with disability. Every time I tell them that I'm going to train, they insist that I should look for a job because I’m a graduate. When I return with a medal from competitions, they are happy for me.

Tell us about medals or achievements you have got in sport

I've been to Ghana, Nigeria, Tunisia, Japan, France and the United Arab Emirates. Tunisia was a World Para Athletics Grand Prix event. I came home with a silver medal. Japan was a World Para-athletics Championship. I didn't return with a medal, but lessons. Then I went to the Paralympics in Paris. I didn't come with a medal. I went to Dubai for the World Para Athletics held on February 10-13, 2025, and won gold.

Speaking of Dubai, you broke the African record held by Algerian Bakhta Benallou since May last year of 31.68 metres…

Yes, last year, I had a personal best throw of 30.69 metres in Tunisia where the Algerian broke my African record. I did 28.44 metres at the Paralympic Games in September last year in Paris where Yuping Zhao from China set a world record of 47.06 metres in the F12 category. I improved my personal best to 35.03 in Dubai on February 13.

What did you do to get the new record? Can you break it again?

I couldn't believe that I did 35 metres. I had been struggling with 30, 31, 32, 28. But I put in 35. When it was confirmed that I had got a new record in a standard field, it became an achievement for me. It boosted my morale a lot. I felt like I could reach the world record in my class. I’m currently ranked top-five in the world at position four.

Do you have any big goals you want to pursue?

Yes. My goal is to reach the world record hopefully before the next Paralympic Games in 2028. Another goal is to mobilise people who are not aware of sports for persons with disability. I might be number one in my class here in Kenya, but I believe there is someone who is not aware of sports for persons with disability. I would like to mobilise such people and also encourage the parents of persons with disability to bring them out so that they can explore their talents.

Are you involved in other sports?

Yes, I started my sports journey by playing goalball when I was in elementary school. I have no plans of leaving it now. I have also introduced myself to cycling to train my legs, but just for leisure. Cycling also helps me to improve my breathing and keep my legs strong. We use a tandem bicycle which is designed to be ridden by more than one person.

What advice would you give to someone interested in joining the javelin throw?

If you love javelin, it can take you very far. So don't be afraid. Come and play javelin. The more participants we have, the more the competition. The tougher the competition, the more it helps us to grow. When we have the numbers in the javelin throw, then we are likely to see competitions organised for us and therefore more exposure.

Do you have your own family?

No. I am single. I don't have a child, but I’d like to have my own family someday.