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Deaflympics: Kenya secures first gold in successful opening day on track
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 17.11.25. | 16:10
Kahinga led Kipkogei to a 1-2 finish in the 10,000m, before the 4x400m mixed relay team bagged silver
Kenya claimed her first medals at the ongoing 2025 Summer Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, after dominating the men’s 10,000m and 4x400m Mixed Relay events on Monday, 17 November.
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With the athletics schedule beginning at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium, Kenya was primed to begin the hunt for medals, and that was settled early on when Ian Wambui Kahinga stormed to victory in the men’s 10,000m final in a time of 29:19.56.
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The 24-year-old Nyahururu-based runner, for his performance, scooped Kenya’s first gold medal, and things proved much better as his compatriot and former champion David Kipkogei claimed silver, clocking 29:27.63.
Chinese Xu Kuantian won the bronze medal after finishing third in 30:04.83.
Speaking after his win, Kahinga, who is eyeing a three-peat in this year’s Deaflympics, said: "I enjoyed my run. It was just like a normal day, and I thank God for the win. I hope that as Team Kenya, we will continue to do better in other races that are yet to come.”
Kahinga, who missed out on breaking the record held by three-time champion Symon Kibai, is also gunning for gold in the 1,500m and 5,000m.
Silver for Kipkogei, on the other hand, added to his glittering accomplishments, as it was his third overall, following his gold and bronze medals in 2009 and 2022.
“I have done my best and I am very happy about it,” the 46-year-old Kipkogei said. “I know that I am a bit aged, but I am happy I can compete in these races and win medals.”
To add to the magnificent double, Kenya enjoyed further success in the 4x400m Mixed Relay, where the quartet of Isaac Atima, Linet Fwamba, Beryl Wamira, and Simon Menza claimed silver, timing 3:40.05, behind champions Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Dmytro Rudenko, Solomiia Kuprych, Serhii Drach and Kristina Kiniaikina timed 3:33.91, with bronze going to Colombia’s trio of Roberto Mosquera, Guerrero Garces, Diego Alvarez and Beltran Matinez, who clocked 3:40.65.
Earlier in the men’s 400m heats, Atima and Menza sailed through to the semi-finals after finishing first in both heats four and six, respectively. Both athletes timed 50.70.
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