Mercy Gakii
18 September 2008
Nairobi — The national team to the just ended Paralympics is set to jet back home on Friday afternoon aboard a Qatar Airways jet.
The team, which comprises 13 athletes and five guide runners, finished at number 26 globally, with a total of nine medals.
They also finished third in Africa after South Africa which finished at sixth position with 21 gold, three silver and six bronze medals, and Tunisia which was ranked 15th with nine gold, nine silver and three bronze medals.
Among the nine medals that Kenya brings home today, five are gold, all won by only two athletes, Henry Kiprono Kirwa and Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei.
Three are silver medals while there is only one bronze.
Kirwa's winning streak started from the first race that he undertook in the 10 day games where he never finished at any other position except the first, whether they were heats or finals.
He brings home three gold medals in the men's 5000m T13, 1500m T13 ,and the 10,000m T12. Kirwa took part in the category for athletes with varying levels of visual impairment.
Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei won two golds in 1500m and 5000 T46 categories. T46 is a category for athletes with various amputations.Only one out of the three female athletes who made the trip brings home a prize.
Mary Nakhumicha Zakayo who set the world and paralympic records in Sydney Paralympics eight years ago could only manage a silver this time round in Javelin F57/58 category.
For Samuel Mushai who competed in two different races, a silver medal in 1500 T11 class consoled his attempts.
Henry Wanyoike was a favourite to win both 5,000 and marathon but he had to be contented with the lowest place at the podium when he took bronze in men's 5,000m T11.
Francis Thuo clinched silver in the same race. Wanyoike could not finish the marathon on Wednesday, spoiling Kenya's hopes for another gold as it was in the Olympics last month.
The government is now expected to live up to its promise to reward the athletes in the same fashion it has accorded the olympics champions.
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