Paris Olympics: History beckoning for trailblazing Judoka Zeddy Cherotich
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 26.07.24. | 20:30
She will be competing in the under 78kg and has her opening game on August 1, against 25-year-old Patricia Sampaio
Two years ago, Zeddy Cherotich was trying her best to catch the selectors eyes and represent Team Kenya in women's javelin.
A change of discipline, from javelin to Judo proved a turning point for the now Olympian who is set to make history as the first Kenyan woman to compete in judo at the Olympics.
Leaving behind a javelin career spanning more than decade, Cherotich took up judo fully in 2022. She made Team Kenya for the East and Central Africa Championships, but an injury cut her dream short.
However, in 2023, she made her dream debut for the country at the Africa Open Championships in Morocco where she reached the quarter-finals.
That feat earned her 182 points for the Road to Paris qualification.
Cherotich made the Kenyan team for this year's African Games and reached the second round before regrouping to storm the semi-finals of the Africa Open Championships in Egypt.
The performance positioned her for the maiden Olympics appearance.
The Kenya Defense Forces Sergeant is among 12 players from Africa who will participate in Judo in the Games.
She will be competing in the under 78kg and has her opening game on August 1. Cherotich opens up her campaign against 25-year-old Patricia Sampaio.
Her participation puts an end a drought that has spanned decades. The last Kenyan judokas at the Olympics were John Bogie (65kgs), Nelson Ombito (71kgs), James Kihara (78kgs) and Tiberius Nyachwaya (86kgs) during the 1988 Games in Seoul, South Korea.
Cherotich and her coach David Walubengo are optimistic as she makes her debut.
“I can’t wait. My maiden Olympic Games feels surreal. I am excited,” Zeddy told Capital Sport from Miramas as she arrived amidst heavy rains, adding: “I want to believe that the heavy rains come with blessings. Those who came earlier all talked of searing heat, but here we are here in Miramas with the rains.”
MORE ABOUT ZEDDY
AGE: 34
CLUB: ULINZI
OCCUPATION: MILITARY (SERGEANT)
CONTINENTAL RANKING: NO. 7 IN AFRICA/AFTER EGYPT
KENYA RANKING: 78KG CHAMPION
