Paris Paralympics: Record-breaking debutant Ojuka bags Kenya's first medal

Samson Ojuka Ojuka rescued Kenya’s fortunes at the ongoing Paris Paralympic Games after he claimed silver medal, Kenya’s first in this year’s extravaganza, in men’s long jump in an African Record-breaking feat at Stade de France on Tuesday evening.

Ojuka produced an incredible fourth jump of 6.20 metres, a new African record, to recapture his second position before hanging on strongly to take silver, Kenya’s first medal at the Games.

Kenya hopes to bag more medals when powerlifter Hellen Wawira and cyclist Kennedy Ogada compete in powerlifting and cycling time trials respectively on Wednesday.

Ojuka, a final year law student at Kenyatta University, erased the previous African Record of 6.05m set by Andrea Dalle Ave from South Africa in 2015 in Johannesburg.

It was Kenya’s first field event medal since the 2008 Beijing Paralympics when Mary Nakhumicha took silver in Javelin F57/58.

Ojuka lost the battle to Brian Lionel from Argentina with his second jump of 6.42m as the Kenyan edged out Brazilian Cardo Evangelista on countback after posting a similar distance of 6.20m from his second jump.

"I am simply over the moon. I want to dedicate this to all those who have supported me and the millions of Kenyans who watched, especially my family," said an elated Ojuka.

He improved his personal best of 5.73m when he leapt 5.83m in the second jump to go second but still dropped to sixth with his third jump of 5.88m.

Then came the huge leap that saw him return to second place before the silver medal exploits to save Kenya, who had not won a medal, some blushes.

“Since Kobe, I have been working with my coach on my technique execution on the runway, how I step on the board, flight and landing,” said Ojuka, who is handled by Henry Nzungi, the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympian.

An elated Nzungi said they focused on strength and conditioning in Nairobi and changed to technique when Team Kenya left for camp in Compiegne, France on August 8.

Ojuka, who was making his debut at the Games, had participated in three world championships- 2019 Dubai, 2023 Paris and 2024 Kobe, Japan-but pulled through without a medal.

He finished sixth with a personal best of 5.73m in Kobe in May.

 “We had not won a medal from track and I was the only one remaining to salvage some pride.

“I am happy that I managed to carry the national flag higher here in Paris,” said Ojuka, who was born with a deformed right hand (Erbs Palsy).