Paris Paralympics: Mushai hoping to seal paralympic games ticket
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 17.07.24. | 21:10
Kenya had only nine contestants at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
2016 Rio Olympics 5,000m T11 and 2012 London Olympics 1,500m T11 gold medalist Samuel Kimani Mushai is hoping to make history as the first Kenyan to compete at the paralympic games five times.
The Paris Paralympic Games are scheduled from August 28 to September 8 in the French capital.
He is on the right track to fulfilling his ambitions after winning the national time trials held at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret over the weekend.
He won the 5,000m T11 with ease, clocking 15 minutes and 51.4 seconds.
He edged out Eric Sang and Wilson Bii to second and third places in 16:36.8 and 17:38.7 respectively.
Speaking after the victory, the Paralympian noted that he hopes to qualify for the games and right his wrongs from the Tokyo event. He competed in the 1,500m and 5,000m T11, but failed to make the podium in Tokyo.
“It’s my dream to make it to my fifth Paralympic Games and I hope lady luck will smile on me. I didn’t perform well in Tokyo because I was coming from a nagging injury,” he said.
He is currently training with the middle-distance athletes in Nandi in a bid to better his best.
“God has been good to me. I don’t take it for granted. I call for his mercy and good health, hoping to get the slot and make history in Paris,” the optimistic runner offered.
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) gave the Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) three more additional slots in para-athletics occasioning the trials in men’s 5,000m T11, 5,000m T13 and women’s 1.500m T11.
IPC gave two slots for men and one for women making it six the number of athletes that will compete in athletics at the Paralympic Games.
KNPC head of technical Joseph Ochieng explained that the committee’s board will sit in the course of the week to fill the slots based on the results from the trials.
Three para-athletes who have already punched their ticket to the Paris Paralympics also competed at the trials.
They include Wesley Sang (Men’s 1,500m T46), and 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games bronze medalist Nancy Chelangat and Mary Waithera.
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Others who have qualified include Dedan Ireri Maina and Kennedy Ogada (cycling), Stacy Neema and Julieta Moipo (taekwondo), Asiya Sururu (rowing) and Hellen Wawira (powerlifting).
Kenya had only nine contestants at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, rescheduled to 2021, where the country managed only one medal (bronze) from Chelangat.
This was a drop in performance from the past three Paralympics in 2008 Beijing, 2012 London and 2016 Rio. In 2016 Rio, the country collected six medals – three gold, one silver and two bronze.
About 2024 Paralympic Games
The games will bring together as many as 4,400 athletes from around the world. The athletes will compete in 549 medal events across 22 sports, taking the spotlight at some of Paris' most iconic landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower, the Château de Versailles and the Grand Palais.
For the first time, the Paralympic Opening Ceremony will be held outside of a stadium. Athletes will parade through the iconic Avenue des Champs-Elysees to Place de la Concorde. An expected 65,000 spectators will get to witness this historic moment, which highlights the host city's commitment to accessibility and inclusivity.
The medals for the games feature a piece of original iron from the Eiffel Tower. Designed to be distinguished by touch, they include engravings and braille. The medals were created in collaboration with the French jeweler Chaumet, linking sport with French cultural heritage.
