Kenya on Monday opened her medal count at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics in style, with Ian Wambui leading his compatriot David Kipkogei to a 1-2 finish in men’s 10,000 meters.
At the same time, the quartet of Isaac Atima, Linet Fwamba, Simon Menza, and Beryl Wamira added another silver medal for Kenya in the 4x400m mixed relay race to cap a memorable first day of the track and field events held at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium in Tokyo.
Kenya took control of the men’s 10,000m race just after the second lap, with Wambui, Peter Rutto, and Kipkogei leading the pack of 21 athletes.
For a moment, a Kenya podium sweep looked likely, but Rutto started fading in the closing stages of the race, leaving Wambui and Kipkogei to battle for the top spot in front of hundreds of enthusiastic fans.
Kipkogei, 46, briefly took the lead, but Wambui reclaimed command, storming to victory in 29 minutes and and 19. 63 seconds.
Kipkogei, who has continued to defy age, came second in 29:27.63 while China’s Xu Kuantian won a bronze medal in 30:04.83.
“I knew it (winning the gold medal in the race) was possible because I had prepared well. I enjoyed my run. It was just like a normal day on track for me, and I thank God for the victory,” the 24-year-old Wambui said.
From left: Chinese Xu Kuantian, Kenya’s Ian Wambui and David Kipkogei display their men’s 10,000m medals on November 17, 2025 at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics. Wambui won gold, Kipkogei silver, while Kuantian took bronze.
Photo credit: Victor Otieno | Nation Media Group
His victory extended Kenya’s dominance in men’s 10,000m to five successive Deaflympics. Kipkogei, won the race at the 2009 edition held in Taipei, Taiwan before Symon Kibai claimed victory in the next three editions.
Kibai did not make the squad for this year’s championships due to personal reasons. Wambui said he had hoped to break the record set by Kibai at the 2017 edition held in Samsun, Turkey. Kibai ran the record of 29:11.73 in Turkey in 2017.
“I was hoping to break the record. Unfortunately, that did not happen today, but I will continue to push for it,” Wambui observed, adding that the victory has given him more confidence as he chases medals in three events in the championship. Apart from seeking to defend his title in the men’s 1,500m, Wambui is also out to upgrade the silver medal he won at the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil to gold.
“I’m also gunning for the gold medal in the 1,500m, as well as in and 5, 000m. I’m strong and motivated,” he asserted.
In clinching silver medal in the race, Kipkogei showed that age is just a number. He won gold medal in the race at the 2009 Deflympics held in Taipei, Taiwan, and secured bronze medal at the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil.
“I have done my best, and I’m very happy about it. I know that age is catching up with me, but I’m happy I can compete in these races and win medals,” he said, ruling out the possibility of retiring soon. He shifts his focus to the men’s marathon where he has set his sights on clinching gold medal.
Ian Wambui celebrates with the Kenyan flag after bagging gold in men's 1,500m in the 2022 Deaflympics at the Sesi Centro Esportivo Athletics Track in Caxias Do Sul, Brazil on May 10, 2022.
Photo credit: Pool | Team Kenya
In the 4x400m relay, Kenya lost to Ukrainian quartert of Dmytro Rudenko, Solomiia Kuprych, Serhii Drach and Kristina Kiniaaikina, who timed 3:33.91. The bronze medal went to the Colombian quartet of Roberto Mosquera, Guerrero Garces Diego Alvarez and Beltran Matinez, who clocked 3:40.65.
Earlier in the men’s 400m heats, Atima and Menza sailed through to the semi-finals after finishing first in heats four and six, respectively. Both athletes timed 50.70.
