Paris Olympics: Alexandra Ndolo apologizes for early exit, leaves Kenyan future in doubt
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 28.07.24. | 18:05
The 37-year-old was highly expected to make a deep run but saw her journey end in a Round of 32 loss
German-born Kenyan fencer Alexandra Ndolo has apologised to Kenyans for her Round of 32 exit at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but left her chances of representing Kenya again in a bit of a cloud.
The 37-year-old was highly expected to make a deep run in the women's individual epee event on Saturday, but after receiving a first-round bye, ended up on the losing side in the last 32, going down 13-12 to Ukrainian Olena Kryvytska.
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The overtime loss meant that her first trip to the Olympic Games was over, crushing the hearts of Kenyans who put much expectation on the world number 10.
"I’m sorry to Kenyans, I really wanted to do Kenya proud and wanted to keep on going to the next level," Ndolo told Capital FM after her bout at the Grand de palais arena. "Unfortunately, today was not the day. It was just a one-touch and it ended on sudden death. So close, but unfortunately, we didn’t come out on top."
Ndolo, a 2022 World Championships silver-medalist, was representing Kenya for the second time in a major competition after winning gold at the African Championships in Casablanca this year.
She admitted that competing at the Olympics was a different ball game.
"It's not a walk in the park," she said. “You know, just seeing the magnitude of how everything is done here, usually we don’t do fencing infront of seven thousand people chanting. I could barely hear my coach. It’s a different experience, but happy to be in it. I want to do better next time.”
Probed further whether she would be willing to represent the country in international competitions, she gave a more telling response saying: "I wish to keep representing Kenya but only if the structures are there to do it properly.
"If the environment around me will allow, I will continue fencing for Kenya. If it doesn’t, you know, I have told you many times that I will quit."
Though not clear with what environment she was referring to, it is clear that she needs more done by her federation and Olympics Committee to put her in a better position to succeed.
In May last year, Ndolo wrote a long post directed to the Kenya Fencing Federation and Sports Ministry, pleading for monetary support in her journey to the Paris Olympics.
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