In Tokyo
Kenya will be fighting to maintain its stranglehold in men’s 10,000 meters title at the ongoing 2025 Summer Deaflympics today at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium in Tokyo on Monday from 8am (Kenyan time).
For the first time in over a decade, the race will not feature Kenya’s Symon Kibai, the three-time defending champion whose dominance has defined the event. Kibai did not make Kenya’s squad this year, having missed the national trials held in September at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
In his absence, three athletes will carry Kenya’s hope of not only maintaining the country’s dominance in the race but also securing the country’s first medals at the 25th edition of the quadrennial championship for the deaf.
They are reigning Deaflympics men’s 1,500m gold medallist, and 5,000m silver medalist Ian Wambui, former 10,000m men’s champion David Kipkogei, and newcomer Peter Rutto. Kenya could have an even more enjoyable day should the team’s captain, Isaac Atima, lead his compatriots Simon Menza, Linet Fwamba and Beryl Wamira to a podium finish in the 4x400m mixed relay final at the same venue at from 9am.
Over the years, Kenya has dominated athletics events at all the seven previous editions of Deaflympics that the country has featured in. Out of all the 56 medals Kenya has won in the last three editions - 2013 in Sofia, Bulgaria, 2017 in Samsun, Turkey, and in 2022 in Caxias do Sul, Brazil, only one - a bronze medal claimed by golfer Isaac Makokha in Brazil - has come from a sports outside athletics.
In the men’s 10,000m final which will be contested by 21 athletes, Wambui who won at the Kenyan trials held in September at Ulinzi Sports Complex, is a hot prospect for a medal. The Nyahururu-based athlete clocked 30 minutes and 46.5 seconds at the trials to win ahead of Rutto (30:47:5) and Kipkogei (30:47.9) in that order.
Quest for a historic triple
A victory for Wambui in the race will mark a perfect start in his quest for a historic triple at the Games. He will also be seeking to defend his 1,500m title, and to upgrade the silver medal he won in 5,000m in Brazil to gold medal.
“Two years ago, I won a gold medal in 1500m and silver medal in 5000m. My aim is also to win for another medal in the 10,000m. I want all three gold medals in my trophy cabinet,” said Wambui.
As part of his preparations for the race, he competed in marathon races and cross-country events, and also trained with the hearing athletes.
“I trained with some of my hearing friends who challenged me to be better in the sport. I also did some marathon races and cross country running to up my game. The good tips I got from my coach have been valuable in these trials,” he said.
The 46-year-old Kipkogei will be seeking to defy age, and win a medal in the race. He is not to be underestimated, having won a gold medal in both 10,000m and 5,000m at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, Taiwan.
He also claimed bronze medal in both distances at the 2013 Deaflympics in Sofia, and again in 2022 in Caxias do Sul. In the 4x400m mixed relay, Kenya’s captain Isaac Atima will be out to lead by example by steering the team to a podium finish. He was part of the Kenyan quartet which won bronze medal in the race at the Deaflympics held in Brazil.
Atima was also among the Kenyan quartet who clinched bronze medal in the men’s 4x400m relay at the Games in Brazil. In Tokyo, he will also compete in the men’s 400m and 400m hurdles. Kenyan athletes will also compete in men’s and women’s 100m heats.
The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf, which is the global governing body for the deaf sports, estimates that 6,000 participants of whom 3,000 are athletes will grace the competition.
