- First, she was named the captain of the Volleyball team ahead of the games.
- As if that was not enough, she was Monday handed the responsibility of carrying the National flag alongside Ferdinand Omanyala at the game's opening ceremony making her the third volleyball player to do so.
Image: FILE
Representing Kenya at the Olympics was enough for Malkia Strikers superstar Trizah Atuka.
However, a lot more was coming her way.
First, she was named the captain of the Volleyball team ahead of the games.
As if that was not enough, she was Monday handed the responsibility of carrying the National flag alongside Ferdinand Omanyala at the game's opening ceremony making her the third volleyball player to do so.
The late Violet Barasa first led Team Kenya at the 2004 Olympics in Athens and then came Mercy Moim who alongside Andrew Amonde led Team Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics.
For Atuka, this was a dream come true as well as a humbling experience having missed out on the Tokyo games after a series of injuries.
However as they say form is temporary and class is permanent, the Mukumu Girls Alumni has since rediscovered her form to become one of the most reliable players for the National side.
She says she was delighted to learn that she will be leading team Kenya on Friday when they cruise past River Siene at the Opening ceremony.
"When I received the news, of course, I felt so excited but at the same, I was humbled, and for me, it's the ultimate honour knowing it's my debut at the Olympics and this role comes with such a huge responsibility of carrying our flag at the opening ceremony," she said.
"It's so great for me because I know we shall be walking there carrying our flag will millions of people watching, it means a lot for me, and for our team and we promise we will show what we represent."
The decision to pick the athletes was reached following a proposal by the National Athletes Commission which was confirmed by the NOCK Executive Board.
Atuka said she was grateful for her selection adding that anyone else would have been picked for the role.
The experienced middle blocker who plays for Kenya Pipeline says she didn't see this huge news coming her way.
According to Atuka, being in the team was enough for her and she was happy to realize a childhood dream.
"I wouldn't say that I knew that I would lead team Kenya in such an event. For me, just being in team Kenya was enough. It was an awesome experience for me coming to the Olympics considering where I come from and missing out on the last Olympics due to injury," she said.
"My dream was to be at the Olympics so to even be there to carry the National flag, my God it's just amazing, it's so satisfying to know my hard work and spirit of never giving up didn't go to waste. I am so happy to be doing this."
Atuka's rise to stardom goes way back to Mukumu girls when she was picked to represent Team Kenya for the junior under eighteen championship in Egypt.
She would later join KCB for one year before she signed for Kenya Pipeline in 2013 where she has won several accolades to date.
She also played for the under twenty National side before making her debut for the National side in 2014.
She has promised local fans in the country great results from the Paris Games.