Time for Team Kenya to reap fruits of persistence in Tokyo

I want to be the first Kenyan to compete at the Taekwondo Grand Prix and you only get invited when you improve in your rankings. So for me, Tokyo is really important to achieve this dream

Not many of the current members of Team Kenya to the Tokyo Olympics may be familiar with Wilson Kiprugut. 

However, they are the latest in a long line of sportspersons expected to continue a tradition kickstarted by Kiprugut when he became the first Kenyan to win a bronze medal at the Olympics — in the men’s 800m at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. 

How appropriate that these Olympians are heading to the site where Kenya first tasted success in the Olympics and began the process of stamping its authority as an athletics powerhouse. 

It is a humongous task that these sportspersons will require broad shoulders to comfortably bear. During the closing ceremony of the national athletics trials for the Tokyo Olympics at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s words captured the magnitude of the task that awaits them. 

“When it comes to football, nations such as Ghana and Nigeria are the giants of Africa. But when it comes to athletics and the Olympics, everyone of African descent looks to Kenya. Therefore, you are not only flying the Kenyan flag but a continental one as well,” Raila said. 

At the Rio Olympics in 2016, Kenya posted one of its best returns in recent times, with 13 medals (six gold, six silver and one bronze), all from athletics. 

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, most Kenyans will be hoping these Olympians match their performance in Tokyo, if not better it.  

Whereas Kenya’s successes at the Olympics have been synonymous with athletics, there is much cause for optimism that other disciplines such as taekwondo, beach volleyball, swimming, rugby and the national women’s volleyball team can also bring medals to the country. 

Faith Ogallo heads to Tokyo as the third-ever Kenyan to represent the country in taekwondo after Dickson Wamwiri and Milka Akinyi at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. 

She says she is using Tokyo as a springboard to more uncharted territories and believes success at the Olympics is not beyond reach. 

“I want to be the first Kenyan to compete at the Taekwondo Grand Prix and you only get invited when you improve in your rankings. So for me, Tokyo is really important to achieve this dream,” Ogallo says. 

The national men’s rugby Sevens team will be making their second appearance at the Olympics but head coach Innocent Simiyu believes his charges can pull off a surprise against seasoned opponents, such as South Africa, Ireland and the United States. 

“We have solidified all our facets of play and the team is relishing the challenge of competing against the world's best teams. The target will be to get out of the pool and aim for a top-six position.

“If we can get out of the pool stage, then we will have done better than what we did in Rio,” he says.