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Francis Gichuhi: From hearing loss to Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics
Kenya Deaf Swimming Team captain Francis Gichuhi trains at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium on October 10, 2025.
Francis Gichuhi lost his hearing just a year after he had started swimming. despite this, he refused to let that setback hold him back.
Now two decades later, the 24-year-old is on the verge of achieving what few Kenyans have: representing the country at a major global championship.
Gichuhi will captain Kenya at the upcoming Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics set for November 15 to 26.
With Deaflympics being the most prestigious sports event for athletes with hearing impairment, Gichuhi says he can’t wait to dive into the water at the Games.
“I am delighted to be selected to represent the country in the Deaflympics and to be named the team’s captain,” beamed Gichuhi after a training session at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium last week.
“It is something I have been dreaming of since 2019 when I joined high school. I am eager for the competition,” he added with a broad smile.
He will represent Kenya in the Deaflympics alongside seven other swimmers namely; Lilian Njeri, Faith Wayua, Jimale Suheib, Salim Mbaraka, Hamadi Ali, Hassan Hamisi, and Yusuf Saddam.
Gichuhi lost his hearing at the age of four after being diagnosed with meningitis.
This was just a year after he had taken up swimming at Aga Khan School in Nairobi. The sudden turn of events, he says, not only affected him but also his parents , leading to a prolonged interruption of his education.
“It was really hard, especially for my parents. They could not accept that I had lost my hearing. I joined a deaf school very late,” said the alumnus of Machakos School for the Deaf. The Deaflympics will be the first international event where he will represent the country.
Kenya Deaf Swimming Team captain Francis Gichuhi trains at the Kasarani Aquatic Stadium on October 10, 2025.
He will compete in 50metres backstroke, 50m breaststroke and 100m breaststroke. Gichuhi, alongside the seven other swimmers, earned the slots to the Deaflympics during the trials held at United States International University - Africa.
All the eight swimmers will compete in more than one category.
With Kenya aiming for a strong showing in Tokyo, the captain stressed on the importance of maintaining a rigorous training routine with more focus on speed and endurance.
“The team spirit is very strong, and I believe we can achieve the best. The areas that we are aiming to improve on are the best time, skill and endurance. I want to promise that we will give our best to achieve the best. Our aim is to get all the gold medals,” he asserted.
The sport, he says, has been of great benefit to him.
“I have benefited a lot from swimming, both physically and mentally. Overall, my body fitness is so good,” said the swimmer whose role is American Olympian Michael Phelps.
Kenya’s deaf swimming coach Irene Kerubo said the team will focus on improving endurance and speed during the residential training camp that is expected to start later this month. She expressed confidence that the team will bag medals in the middle-distance categories.
“Kenyan deaf swimmers are not so exposed in the sport, but since we started training, there have been improvements. For the middle distances, which are 100m and 200m, I think we are going to get medals,” said the veteran swimming coach.
Kenya Deaf Swimming Federation Secretary General Charles Odira is happy that swimmers will be part of the country’s contingent to the Games.
“I am very happy because this time we are going to Tokyo to represent Kenya and show that we are also capable of shining on the global stage. We promise to bring a medal from Tokyo,” he said.
