• Mushai, a visually impaired middle-distance maestro, specializes in the 5,000m T11 and 1,500m T11 events.
• He also boasts two World titles in the 5,000m T11 from London 2017 (15:41.54) and Dubai 2019 (15:45.32).
Image: KNPC
2016 5,000m T11 Paralympic champion Samwel Mushai is optimistic of reclaiming his title at the Paris Games slated to kick off on August 28.
Mushai, a visually impaired middle-distance maestro, specializes in the 5,000m T11 and 1,500m T11 events.
Alongside his trusted guide, James Boit, Mushai clinched the Rio 2016 5,000m T11 title with a time of 15:16.11, edging out Brazil’s Odair Santos and his guide Carlos Santos (15:17.55) and compatriot Wilson Bii with Bernard Korir (15:22.96).
Mushai, who is also Team Kenya’s captain, is sharpening his speed in Compiegne, 79.3 km from the French capital.
“I’ve built my endurance in Kenya; now it’s all about fine-tuning my speed here in Compiegne before the Games begin,” Mushai said.
Having honed his form at high-altitude camps in Nandi, Murang’a and Nairobi before leaving for France, the 34-year-old veteran is poised for his fourth Paralympic appearance, with his sights set on a third gold medal.
He made his debut at the Paralympics in Beijing 2008, clinching a silver medal in the 1,500m T11.
He followed it up with a gold medal in the same event in London 2012 before claiming the 5,000m T11 title in Rio.
He also boasts two World titles in the 5,000m T11 from London 2017 (15:41.54) and Dubai 2019 (15:45.32).
Mushai will be deputized by rower Asiya Sururu who is confident Kenya will improve on its Tokyo 2020 performance.
“Things are quite different now and we are happy because we had a camp in three places in Kenya before coming here in Compiegne,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of the Compiegne camp which will be crucial in helping them acclimatize to the weather before the games commence.
“The camp will help us focus and prepare well for the games,” explained Sururu.
Team Kenya’s Chef de Mission, Dennis Muga, has ensured the 14 athletes and their seven guides are well-prepared, with a focus on maintaining their diet, featuring familiar Kenyan staples like Ugali and chicken.
“Proper nutrition is critical; this camp would be meaningless without it,” said Muga, a veteran of the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games.
Apart from taekwondo athletes Julieta Moipo, Stency Neema, and javelin thrower Sheila Wanyonyi, who continue to train in Kenya, the rest of the team has settled in Compiegne, arriving in two batches last week.
Muga is optimistic about surpassing Tokyo’s medal haul, singling out 1,500m T11 bronze medallist Nancy Chelangat, 5,000m T46 hopeful John Lokedi, and 1,500m T13 contender Wesley Sang as key prospects.
“We shall perform better than Tokyo,” said Muga.