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Kenyatta University's law student wins Kenya's first field Paralympic medal since 2008
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 04.09.24. | 09:31
He qualified for the Games courtesy of his high-performance ranking at the World Para Athletics Championships held in Kobe, Japan this year.
Samson Opiyo secured Kenya's first medal at the Paralympic Games in Paris after claiming silver in the long jump T37.
Opiyo’s fourth jump of 6.20 metres at the Stade de France not only won him silver but also an African Record (AR) in the event.
He finished second behind Brian Lionel of Argentina, who leapt 6.42 metres with Cardoso Mateus of Brazil settling for bronze in a Season’s Best (SB) of 6.20 metres.
This was Kenya’s first field event medal since the 2008 Beijing Paralympics when Mary Nakhumicha clinched silver in the javelin.
The 28-year-old delved into Para athletics while in university back in 2017 and considers winning a silver medal in the T37 200m and a bronze medal in the T37 100m at the 2019 International Athletics Meeting in Marrakesh, Morocco, as one of the best moments of his career.
"I am simply over the moon…I want to dedicate this to all those who have supported me and the millions of Kenyans who watched especially my family," said Opiyo.
Opiyo improved his personal best of 5.73m when he leaped 5.83m in the second jump to go second but still dropped to sixth with his third jump of 5.88m.
Then came the huge leap that saw him return to second place before the silver medal exploits to save Kenya, who had not won a medal, some blushes.
Opiyo qualified for the Games courtesy of his high-performance ranking at the World Para Athletics Championships held in Kobe, Japan, this year.
He is a final-year law student at Kenyatta University.
“Since Kobe, I have been working with my coach on my technique execution on the runway, how I step on the board, flight, and landing,” said Opiyo, who is handled by Henry Nzungi, the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympian.
An elated Nzungi said they focused on strength and conditioning in Nairobi and changed to technique when Team Kenya left for camp in Compiegne, France, on 8 August.
Opiyo, who was making his debut at the Games, had participated in three world championships—2019 Dubai, 2023 Paris, and 2024 Kobe, Japan but pulled through without a medal. He finished sixth with a personal best of 5.73 m in Kobe in May.
“We had not won a medal from track, and I was the only one remaining to salvage some pride. I am happy that I managed to carry the national flag higher here in Paris,” said Ojuka, who was born with a deformed right hand (EErbs Palsy).
“This one will take time to settle, “ said the second born in a family of four- two boys and two girls. He played as a striker for Maseno School before embracing athletics when he joined Kenyatta University in 2018.
Opiyo hopes that his performance will inspire the remaining Kenyans yet to compete in Paris, powerlifter Hellen Wawira and cyclist Kennedy Ogada.
Wawira takes the bench today in the women's under-41kg final at 2.35 pm (Kenyan time), while Ogada, guided by Oscar Dennis, will field in time trials also today at 2.30 pm.
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