Team Kenya plots to reclaim marathon gold at Deaflympics
Kenya's Symon Kibai, Peter Toroitich, Kelvin Kipkogei and David Kipkogei pose for a photo after the men's 10,000m race of the 2021 Summer Deaflympic Games in Coxias do Sul, Brazil.
What you need to know:
- Kenya dominated four successive men’s marathons in the seven previous Deaflympics.
- Daniel Kiptum, 51, who has since retired, remains the undisputed king of Deaflympics marathon.
In Tokyo
Kenya will on Tuesday seek to reclaim the men’s marathon title at the 2025 Deaflympics, and end her long wait for a women’s medal in the same event at the Tokyo Games.
Success in both races, which are scheduled to be held from 4am (Kenyan time) would see Kenya conclude the Games on a high, reinforcing her dominance in athletics at the quadrennial multi-sports event.
Two-time Deaflympics marathon silver medalist Peter Toroitich, and David Kipkogei will carry Kenya’s hopes in the men’s event, while Serah Kimani, and Grancy Kandagor will represent the country in the women’s category.
Kenya dominated four successive men’s marathons in the seven previous Deaflympics - in 2005 (Melbourne), Australia, 2009 in Taipei, Taiwan, 2013 in Sofia, Bulgaria, and 2017 in Samsun, Turkey.
That sequence of dominance was halted in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 2022 after the team was barred from competing for late arrival at the starting point.
Daniel Kiptum, 51, who has since retired, remains the undisputed king of Deaflympics marathon as he won gold medal three times in a row – in 2013, 2017 and 2009.
While the 43-year-old Toroitich has won silver medal twice, he is aiming to finally strike gold in Tokyo. Toroitich finished second in the 2013 and 2017 editions of the Games.
“Looking back at how I have been performing, I know I will do better. My goal is to go back to Kenya with a gold medal,” said Toroitich, who hails from Turkana West.
Brimming with confidence
Toroitich also won a bronze medal in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase at the 2013 Games and men’s 10,000m at the 2017 competition. At the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil, Toroitich bagged the silver medal in the men’s 10,000m.
Similarly, Kipkogei, 46, who will be competing in his first-ever marathon at the Deaflympics, has set his sights on clinching the gold medal.
Kipkogei heads to the race brimming with confidence, buoyed by his silver medal he has won in the men’s 10,000m race that was won by compatriot Ian Wambui.
“I have been training since 2022 when we went to Brazil. Unfortunately, I couldn’t compete and I really felt bad. This time round I know everything will be smooth and I’m ready to bring back the gold medal in both races,” said Kipkogei.
Previously, the athlete won gold medals in both men’s 5,000m, and 10,000m at the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, and a bronze medal in men’s 10,000m at the 2022 Games in Brazil.
Kenya’s Ian Wambui (right) and his compatriot David Kipkogei (left) display their men’s 10,000m gold and silver medals, respectively, on November 17, 2025, at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics.
After winning the silver medal in men’s 10,000m at this edition’s Deaflympics, Kipkogei talk of retirement despite his advanced age.
“I have done my best and I’m very happy about it. I know I’m a bit old but I’m happy I can compete in these races and still win medals,” he said on Monday.
Both Kimani and Kandagor will be competing in their first ever marathon at the Deaflympics. Kimani has already won a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000m at the Tokyo Games. She clinched a silver medal over the same distance in the Deaflympics held in Brazil in 2022.
For Kandagor, she will be hoping to make amends after finishing a disappointing 10th in the women’s 10,000m in Tokyo. She won bronze medals in both the women’s 5,000m and 10,000m in Caxias do Sul.
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.
“From the support that the coach has been giving me in training, I believe that I will perform well,” said Kandagor. Before departing to Japan, the team trained at Karura Forest and Kenyatta University for close to a month.
“I have been training for a while, I’m motivated. I’m hoping to get a medal in Japan,” said Kimani. Kenya’s deaf athletics coach Samuel Kibet exuded confidence that the marathon team will perform well.
“The only challenge we are facing is the unpredictable weather. Sometimes you wake up and find it is very cold here (Tokyo) but all the other things are well and we believe that we are going to perform well,” said Kibet.
