When Kenyan deaf athlete James Musembi stepped onto the track at Nairobi’s Ulinzi Sports Complex in September for his first-ever national trials, his name barely rang a bell.
Hailing from rural Machakos County and still not well conversant with the sign language, Musembi,21, drew little attention from fellow athletes and coaches.
But everything changed when he beat the reigning Deaflympics men’s 1,500 metres gold medallist Ian Wambui at the event. And on Wednesday, Musembi announced his arrival on the world stage in style, winning gold over the distance at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics.
Musembi showed no sign of stage fright as he dominated the race, from gun to tape at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium, winning in three minutes and 49.61 seconds. His compatriot Elikana Rono clinched the silver medal in 3:50.22. Russian Aliaksandr Charniak, who competed as a neutral athlete, won the bronze medal in 3:56.77.
“This victory means a lot to me. I’m so happy,” said a delighted Musembi.
Interpreters at the Deaflympics were not able to help journalists covering the event conduct a full interview with Musembi due to his limited sign language skills. But his wild celebrations told of how the victory was so important to him and Kenya.
Immediately after crossing the finish line, Musembi repeatedly jumped high while thumping his fist in the air. Joined by Rono and their compatriot John Koech in the celebrations, the Machakos-based athlete posed for photos with the Kenyan flag.
At the medal ceremony, he wasted no time in biting his gold medal as he smiled before the cameras. Later in the mixed zone, Musembi proudly showed his medal to the press. In winning the race, Musembi lived up to the expectations as the man to watch in the event.
On Tuesday, Rono heaped praise on Musembi saying: “I know he is much faster than me. Because of that, I know he will be pushing me when we are running. We have different strengths so between us, we can get either a gold or silver,” said Rono, who is also the reigning Deaflympics men’s 800m champion.
Confident that Musembi would win the gold medal in the 1,500m, Kenya deaf athletics coach Samuel Kibet decided not to have Wambui defend his title but instead focus on the upcoming men’s 5,000 metres race.
On Wednesday, coach Kibet said of Musembi: “Since our national trials, I observed him and realised that he has huge potential. We have great hopes in him, and if all goes well, the deaf community will have a champion to watch.”
He tipped him to fill the big shoes of the decorated Kenyan deaf athlete Symon Kibai, who did not make it to the squad for this event due to personal reasons. Kibai is admired for winning gold medals in both men’s 5,000m and 10,000m at three straight Deaflympics.
Kibai also won gold and bronze in the 1,500m in the 2013 and 2017 Deaflympics, respectively.
Kibet predicted an explosive encounter between Musembi and Wambui in the men’s 5,000m.
In the women’s 1,500m, Kenya’s Sharon Bitok scooped the bronze medal in 4:43.65. The race was won by Russian Iullia Emilyevna, who competed as a neutral athlete. She clocked 4:39.65 ahead of Portuguese Mira Da Silva, who finished the race in 4:40.60.
Kenya has now bagged seven medals in the Games – two gold medals, three silver and two bronze.
On Monday, Ian Wambui opened Kenya’s medal account in the 25th Summer Deaflympics by winning the gold medal in the men’s 10,000m. His compatriot David Kipkogei claimed the silver medal in the same event.
Later that same day, the quartet of Isaac Atima, Linet Fwamba, Simon Menza, and Beryl Wamira added another silver medal for Kenya in the 4x400m mixed relay.
On Tuesday, Kenya’s Serah Kimani, 36, earned a surprise bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m after two athletes, who had finished ahead of her, were disqualified for competing in the wrong shoes.
