The new world, and Deaflympics 5,000 metres record holder Ian Wambui Kahinga on Friday returned home to a triumphant welcome at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The 24-year-old Deaf athlete from Nyahururu in Laikipia County broke both the World, and the Deaflympics record over the distance at the 25th Summer Deaflympics held in Tokyo, Japan.
Wambui, who is a taxi driver, won the gold medal after timing 13:52.83.
The previous 5,000m world, and Deaflympics record were held by Kenya’s Symon Cherono Kibai who timed 14:02: 90 while winning gold at the 2013 Games in Sofia, Bulgaria.
In Tokyo, Wambui also won gold medal in the men’s 10,000m.
Apart from the traditional dancers, Wambui was welcomed at JKIA by his wife Serah Wachira, government officials, and his fellow taxis drivers in Nyahururu.
“I feel good because I got medals in Tokyo and my family is here at JKIA to welcome me. I’m so happy to see them, they are smiling a lot,” said Wambui, who is guaranteed a whopping Sh 11 million government cash reward for his achievement in Tokyo.
As part of the reward for his impressive performance in the Games, the government flew Wambui back home in business class.
He said he will continue training hard to perform even better in future competitions and hoped his strong showing at the Games will inspire his team mates in Nyahururu to work harder so they can shine like him.
“I believe these medals are going to inspire many more people. They have seen that I have broken the world record so when we train together with them, they will be motivated to win medals, break world records and grow,” said Wambui.
Elated by his impressive performance, his wife Wachira said: “I’m so happy and I thank God for helping him win. Though he has been training hard, I still thank be God for helping him be victorious. I will encourage him to train harder so that he can win more medals in the future.”
On his part, Coach Samuel Kibet said Wambui has a brighter future and urged him to continue working harder on his career.
“It is a very big inspiration to all athletes not only the deaf ones. Our aim was to break the world record in 10,000m and 5000m . I want to thank God that we got our tactics right in the 5,000m . I want to encourage him not to go back home and sleep but continue training. I want to believe that if he get more opportunities he will do better than he has done now,” said Kibet. Kibet called on sponsors to come onboard and support the deaf athletes.