Kenya on Tuesday continued to shine at the ongoing Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics with Serah Kimani Wangari winning a bronze medal in the women’s 10,000 meters at the Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium.
Wangari was awarded the medal after two athletes, who finished ahead of her, were disqualified for running in wrong shoes. She timed 37 minutes, and 24.37 seconds.
Mexican Juarez Lourdes claimed the gold medal in 36:17.07 while Finnish Sarah Elise scooped silver medal in 37:13.45.
“It’s amazing to win this bronze medal because it was such a tough race. The athletes whom we were competing against were very strong. Because I had no injury, I was disappointed to finish fifth, so I was shocked when I was later informed that I was actually the bronze medallist.
“Everything happens for a reason and I’m delighted to be awarded the bronze medal,” said an excited Wangari. She scooped a silver medal in the same race at the previous Deaflympics held in Caxias do Sul, Brazil in 2022.
Grancy Kandagor who was the only other Kenyan in the race finished a disappointing 10th in 45:31.06.
A total of 17 athletes competed in the race.
Following Wangari’s third place finish, Kenya has now bagged four medals in the Tokyo Deaflympics – one gold medal, two silver medals and a bronze.
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On Monday, Kenya opened her medal account with Ian Wambui winning gold medal in the men’s 10,000m as his compatriot David Kipkogei claimed silver medal in the same event.
The quartet of Isaac Atima, Linet Fwamba, Simon Menza, and Beryl Wamira added another silver medal for Kenya in the 4x400m mixed relay.
Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi who watched Tuesday’s races at Komazawa Olympic Park Gymnasium congratulated Team Kenya for putting up a strong performance in the competition. He assured the team that the government will reward all the medallists in the same scale as their hearing counterparts.
Mwangi added that the government will not discriminate against the disabled athletes.
“I have come to support the team as a team leader and to show commitment from the government that any sport, be it abled or those abled differently, we will support them. The government led by his Excellency President William Ruto has committed to support sports and reward high performance,” he said.
In September, President William Ruto announced that gold medal winners in major sporting events will now receive Sh3 million, up from Sh750,000.
Silver medallists will earn Sh2 million, an increase from Sh500,000, while bronze medallists will receive Sh1 million, up from Sh350,000.
Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics women’s 10000m selected results:
- 1. Lourdes Juarez (Mexico) 36:17.07
- 2. Sara-Elise Ruokonen (Finland) 37:13.45
- 3. Sera Kimani Wangari 37:24.37
- 4. Amador Anaya Lucia (Mexico) 38:05.12
- 5. Malgorzata Mejka (Poland) 38:22.96
- 6. Cristina Gogna (Italy) 38:32.60
- 7. Lucia Maribel (Ecuador) 40:33.73
- 8. Makiko Yasumoto (Japan) 41:16.69
- 9. Ciara Marie Patricia (Ireland) 44:32.09
- 10. Grancy Jebichii Kandagor 45: 31.06
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