Kenya’s Lucas Wandia eyes third straight Deaflympics steeplechase gold
Lucas Wandia celebrates with the Kenyan flag after winning gold in men's 3,000m steeplechase at the 24th Summer Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 2022
What you need to know:
- Should Wandia achieve that feat, he will become only the second Kenyan to win three gold medals in a row at the Deaflympics.
- That record is held by Symon Kibai who clinched three straight gold medals in both the men’s 5,000m, and 10,000m.
In Tokyo
Kenya's Lucas Wandia faces the weight of history on Sunday as he chases an unprecedented third straight gold medal in men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo.
At the same time, Kenya’s hopes of winning more medals in the Games intensified on Friday after seven of its athletes advanced to the finals of various events. After one week of the global showpiece, Kenya has won seven medals - two gold, three silver and two bronze.
The men’s 3,000m steeplechase final will be run on Sunday from 7am (Kenyan time) at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium her in Tokyo.
Wandia, 36, will line up against eight other athletes, among them compatriots Jacob Kibet and Joseph Gitau.
Born hearing, Wandia lost hearing in one ear at the age of 12. At 18 years, a harsh beating by a teacher on both ears made him completely deaf.
When he is not engaged in athletics, the runner from Kiambu County engages in business.
For winning a silver medal over the distance in his Deaflympics debut in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2013, and a back-to-back gold medal in the same event in Samsun, Turkey in 2017, and in Caxias do Sul in Brazil in 2022, the Kenyan government honoured Wandia as a national hero during this year’s Mashujaa Day celebrations held on October 20 at Ithokwe Stadium in Kitui.
This recognition by the State, together with the desire to secure his future by earning the lucrative cash rewards that the government has promised the medallists, Wandia says has motivated him to chase a third gold medal on Sunday.
“I’m confident that I will continue to defend my position. Once again, I want to bring back a gold medal,” said the double Deaflympics gold medallist.
Should Wandia achieve that feat, he will become only the second Kenyan athlete to win three gold medals in a row at the Deaflympics.
That record is held by the decorated Symon Kibai, who clinched three straight gold medals in both the men’s 5,000m, and 10,000m. Kibai won the gold medals in the 2013, 2017 and 2022 editions of the Games.
Steeplechase dominance
However, he is missing from the Kenyan squad in Tokyo since he did not show up for the national trials held in September at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi.
“Kibai is a great athlete and it is unfortunate that he is not here. Winning three straight gold medals like him will be a big achievement for me,” said Wandia, adding that he will also be keen to lower his time in the race.
At the 2013 Games, Wandia timed nine minutes and 04.82 seconds while in the following competition in Brazil in 2022, he clocked 9:19.27.
He attributed his dominance over the distance to self-belief and a strong working relationship with his coach.
“The reason why I always win is because I believe in myself and my coach. With the programme that we have developed together, I believe that I can do anything.”
He also tipped compatriots, Jacob Kibet and Joseph Gitau, to shine in the race, citing their rich talent, confidence and improved skills.
“I believe that God will help me and my team to represent Kenya well. We are hoping to claim all the top three positions in the race. We are going to perform very well because we have the confidence and skills that we have harnessed. I am hoping that all those medals that we were not able to get when we went to Brazil, we will harvest them this time around,” he said.
For Kibet, the event offers a chance to make amends after finishing a disappointing sixth in the previous edition. He will be hoping to rediscover the form that earned him a bronze medal in the same event at the 2017 Games in Samsun, Turkey.
The seven Kenyan athletes who advanced to the finals of various races are newly crowned gold medalists Ian Wambui and James Musembi, Nelson Kipkorir, Isaac Atima, Rael Wamira, Hillary Kipkorir and Stephen Okoth.
Wambui, Musembi, and Kipkorir will compete in men’s 10,000m final on Monday while Atima will be in men’s 400m hurdles final on Saturday.
Wamira will compete in women’s long jump on Monday while Kipkorir and Okoth will be in the men’s javelin throw on Sunday.
