Kenya swimming icon Jason Dunford has hinted at a potential return to competitive swimming with the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics on his mind.
Dunford last competed at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow before retiring the same year, owing to a back injury.
The back injury, which had been a nagging issue throughout his career, ultimately forced Dunford to retire at the age of 27, just as he was at the peak of his abilities.
“Retiring so early was heartbreaking,” Dunford recalled. “The back injury was something I struggled with for years and it became clear that I couldn’t continue competing at the level I demanded of myself.”
In a candid interview, Dunford revealed that he’s been seriously considering a return to the pool.
“The 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is still four years away, which gives me time to see if I can return to that elite level. The idea of competing again, and possibly bettering my past achievements, is fascinating,” he shared.
If he is to compete, Dunford who will be 41 by the next Olympic cycle, will be up against swimmers half his age or younger but observed the idea of competition excites him.
“Yes it's a tall order but I am prepared to put in the hard work and get myself in great shape to attain the qualification times. I believe I can be in good condition to attend championships in the next three years too,” added Dunford.
He added: "The idea of me coming back is a little bit far-fetched but we will see. I am just trying to get fit and see if my body can get back there. However, If I return, I want to perform well. I don’t just want to come in and fill up the numbers.”
He added watching the Paris Olympics last month ignited his appetite to compete again.
“Watching people like Eliud Kipchoge, Lebron James, Cristiano Ronaldo and older sportsmen who are still competing gives me hope it can be done," he noted.
Dunford is Kenya's most decorated swimmer with50m butterfly gold in the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi—the first by a Kenyan at that level hence earning him a presidential award from President Kibaki in the same year
Other achievements include several medals in the 2006 Africa Swimming Championship in Dakar, Senegal, where he won two gold medals (100m butterfly and 50m backstroke), three silvers (50m butterfly, 100m and 200m freestyle) and one bronze (50m freestyle).
At the 2011 Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, he won gold medals in the 50 and 100m butterfly, silvers in the 50m backstroke, 100m freestyle and 200m butterfly and a bronze in the 50m freestyle.
He also graced the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic Games respectively among other international events in his 10-year glittering career.
