In Glasgow
Fearless, ambitious and unwavering. These three words best describe Stephen Ndangiri, Kenya's latest race walking sensation.
Five years ago, the 20-year-old was not even considered one of the country's brightest athletics prospects while he was a student at St Peter’s Gathuthiini Senior School in Kagio, Kirinyaga County.
A member of the school’s pioneer class, Ndangiri only managed to reach county-level competitions.
“We didn't do much training in secondary school because we were a new school and lacked experience. We would only train in the week leading up to the competition, from Monday to Friday, then compete on Saturday,” an ecstatic Ndangiri told Nation Sport moments after winning Kenya’s third silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
He produced a remarkable performance in men’s 10,000 metres race walk, finishing second after an enthralling duel with Australia’s Isaac Beacroft at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow.
They exchanged the lead many times in the 25-lap contest, with Ndangiri looking destined for gold as the bell signalled the final lap. However, with 300m remaining, Beacroft made a decisive move, surging past the Kenyan.
Ndangiri responded valiantly but the Australian proved just too strong, crossing the finish line in a season best time of 38 minutes, 45.51 seconds. Ndangiri settled for silver in 38:46.57, a personal best and a new Kenyan national record.
“It's been a good season for me. I’ve become national champion, African silver medallist and now Commonwealth Games silver medallist. I think this is the best season of my career so far, but I know there are many more to come,” said Ndangiri, a Lance Corporal in the Kenya Defence Forces, said.
His hunger for success is evident. The Commonwealth Games final also served as a measure of how far he has come since the 2024 World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Lima, Peru. On that occasion, Ndangiri finished ninth while Beacroft placed fourth, with more than a minute separating the two athletes.
Kenyan race walking greats
“Back in Lima, there was a difference of slightly more than one minute between us, but today the gap was just over one second,” said a smiling Ndangiri.
“The difference between us has been experience. He has competed at many major championships, but I thank God for finishing second and I'm grateful.”
The World Under-20 Championships have played a pivotal role in shaping Ndangiri's career. When Nairobi hosted the event in 2021, Ndangiri watched from home and drew inspiration from Kenya’s Heristone Wanyonyi, who won gold in the men’s 10,000m race walk.
Inspired by that performance, Ndangiri tracked down Wanyonyi the following year and began training under his coach, Gabriel Otwane.
The decision quickly paid dividends. By 2024 he had won the national Under-20 title, earning selection to represent Kenya at the World Under-20 Championships in Lima.
Two years later, the student upstaged the master. At this year's national championships, Ndangiri defeated his idol Wanyonyi to claim the senior national title.
Veteran race walker and 2022 Commonwealth bronze medallist Samuel Gathimba finished 31 seconds behind him, while Wanyonyi placed third, more than a minute adrift.
Now under the guidance of Kenya Defence Forces coach Simon Wachira, Ndangiri appears ready to continue the legacy established by Kenyan race walking greats David Kimutai and Grace Wanjiru. Judging by his rapid rise, a major international gold medal may only be a matter of time.
Meanwhile, there was disappointment and excitement in equal measure for Kenya in women's 800m after reigning world champion Lillian Odira settled for silver as world silver medallist Georgia Hunter-Bell from England took gold.
Hunter-Bell executed a near-perfect tactical race to claim gold in 1:59.51, with Odira clocking 2:00.58 to hand Kenya its fourth silver medal and eighth medal overall.
