2025 Deaflympics: Kenya's Serah Kimani wins surprise bronze in women's 10,000m
Kenya's Serah Kimani displays her bronze medal in women’s 10,000m at Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics on November 18, 2025 at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium.
Kenya’s medal tally at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics rose to four on Tuesday after Serah Kimani secured bronze medal in women’s 10,000m at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium.
The 36-year-old was elevated to third place after two athletes, who had finished ahead of her, were disqualified for competing in the wrong shoes.
She timed 37 minutes, and 24.37 seconds, while Mexican Juarez Lourdes scooped the gold medal in 36:17.07. Finnish Sarah Elise came third in 37:13.45.
Kimani admitted to being shocked by the news that she was the bronze medallist.
Kimani and her coach Samule Kibet, were on their way back to the hotel when they received a call informing them that she had been declared the bronze medallist in the race, which attracted 17 competitors.
“I was shocked when I was later informed that I was the bronze medallist. Everything happens for a reason, and I’m delighted to be awarded the bronze medal,” said an excited Kimani after the medal ceremony.
She won a silver medal in the women’s 10,000m race at the previous Deaflympics held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 2022.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi was among the Kenyan fans who celebrated with Kimani at Komazawa after the medal ceremony.
Grancy Kendagor, who was the only other Kenyan in the race, finished a disappointing 10th in 45:31.06. Alongside Kimani, she vowed to shine in the women’s 5,000m and marathon.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi and Serah Kimani after she won a bronze medal in women’s 10,000 meters at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics.
“I’m hoping that I can prepare myself better for the 5,000 and the marathon because I have to get a medal in the races. I will do my best,” said Kendagor.
She won bronze medals in both 5,000m and 10,000m at the Deaflympics in Brazil. Thanks to Kimani’s bronze medal on Tuesday, Kenya has now won four medals at the Tokyo Deaflympics – one gold medal, two silver medals and a 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 Wednesday, Kenya will be out to increase her medal tally in the competition as the spotlight shifts to men’s 400m final, men’s 1,500m and women’s 1,500m finals. Team Kenya’s captain, Isaac Tongi, will carry the nation’s hope in the men’s 400m when he lines up against seven other athletes at Komazawa at 3:15pm local time (3:15 am in Kenya).
He finished second in the semi-final on Tuesday.
Atima said the silver medal he won in the 4x400m mixed relay has given him confidence ahead of Wednesday's race.
Kenya's Serah Kimani displays her bronze medal in women’s 10,000m at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics on November 18, 2025 at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium.
“The competition will be tough, but I’m hoping I can do better and win something for myself and my country," said the captain.
“After we won the silver medal in the 4x400m mixed relay, I see myself doing better in the final tomorrow (Wednesday) because it has boosted my morale. I’m hoping that we can go for a gold medal in the final,” he added.
Atima won bronze medals in both 4x400m mixed relay and the men’s 4x400m relay at the previous Deaflympics held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, in 2022.
In the men’s 1,500m final, Kenya will be represented by James Mwanza, Elikana Rono, and John Koech. While Mwanza is a newcomer, Rono is the defending champion in men’s 800m, while Koech won gold in men’s 1,500 at the 2017 Deaflympics held in Samsun, Turkey.
“The competition today (Tuesday) was easy because I knew that this was just the semi-finals. We will be meeting again in the final tomorrow (Wednesday), so I tried to conserve some of my energy, and my goal is to get a medal in the race. I’m going to be working with my teammates to make sure that one of us gets the gold medal,” said Rono.
In the women’s 1,500m, Kenya will be represented by Sharon Bitok, Rebecca Matiko, and Viola Jelimo. Matiko won a bronze medal in the 2013 Deaflympics in Sofia, Bulgaria.
PS Mwangi congratulated Team Kenya for putting up a strong performance in the competition and urged them to surpass the 24-medal haul they achieved in Brazil. He reiterated that the government will reward all the medallists on the same scale as their hearing counterparts. Mwangi added that the government will not discriminate against the disabled athletes.
“I have come to support the team as a team leader and to show commitment from the government that any sport, be it abled or those abled differently, we support them. The government led by President William Ruto has committed to supporting sports and rewarding high performance,” he said.
In September, President William Ruto announced that gold medal winners in major sporting events will now receive Sh3 million, up from Sh750,000.
Silver medallists will earn Sh2 million, an increase from Sh500,000, while bronze medallists will receive Sh1 million, up from Sh350,000.
Kenya’s fixtures for Wednesday (Kenyan time)
Men’s 400m final 9:15am
Women’s 1,500m final 9:30am
Men’s 1,500m final 9:45am
Men’s handball (Komazawa Olympic Park General Sports Ground Indoor Stadium)
France v Kenya 4 am
Women’s basketball (Ota-City General Gymnasium)
Kenya v Lithuania 4:30am
