Samson Ojuka named LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month for September 2024

Kenya’s sole medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Samson Opiyo Ojuka, has been named the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for September 2024.

Ojuka, a law student at Kenyatta University, won a silver medal in the men’s long jump T37 category, saving Kenya from the embarrassment of almost finishing the prestigious quadrennial event without a medal.

His silver-winning jump of 6.20 meters, achieved on September 3 at the Stade de France, set a new African record.

Ojuka’s achievement marked a historic milestone, as he became the first Kenyan to win a medal in long jump at both the Paralympic and Olympic levels. Additionally, he became the first Kenyan to medal in Paralympic field events since Mary Nakhumicha’s silver in the javelin at the 2008 Beijing Games.

The 28-year-old entered the Paris 2024 Paralympics with a personal best of 5.73 meters, recorded at the World Para Athletics Championships in May of this year.

At the Games, he finished second behind Argentina’s Brian Lionel, who jumped 6.42 meters, and edged out Brazilian Cardoso on a countback, both recording identical jumps of 6.20 meters.

Ojuka’s jump shattered the previous African record of 6.05 meters, set by South Africa’s Andrea Dalle Ave in 2015.

Speaking about Ojuka’s achievement, LG Electronics East Africa Managing Director Dongwon Lee said, "This award allows us to strengthen sports cohesion among champions across diverse disciplines. It’s vital for us to recognize exceptional talent, and Ojuka is certainly deserving of the September award."

Born on April 13, 1996, in Nairobi, Ojuka initially pursued both football and athletics at Maseno School. He shifted his focus to athletics after joining Kenyatta University in 2018, drawing inspiration from Olympian Boniface Mweresa.

Soon after, he competed in the World Grand Prix in Tunisia and Morocco in 2019, participating in the 100m, 200m, and long jump events.

Ojuka made his debut at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, where he set a personal best of 12.39 seconds to finish sixth in the 100m, while also placing sixth in the 200m with a time of 25.19.

In the long jump, he set another personal best of 5.58 meters, finishing seventh at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, where Argentina’s Lionel won with a Championship Record of 6.67 meters.

At the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, Ojuka improved his personal best to 5.73 meters, an achievement that secured his qualification for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

“I’m thrilled to win the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month award for September. I didn’t expect it, and it’s a big motivation for me to keep working hard for upcoming major championships, like the 2026 Commonwealth Games and the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics,” Ojuka said.

Ojuka, who was born with Erb's Palsy, faced tough competition for the prestigious monthly award. Among the nominees were Diamond League winners Faith Kipyegon (1,500m), Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Mary Moraa (800m), Faith Cherotich and Amos Serem (3,000m steeplechase), and Beatrice Chebet (5,000m). Also nominated were cricketer Rakep Patel, FIFA Under-17 World Cup-bound Valery Nekesa, rugby stars Amon Wamalwa, Darwin Mukidza, and Dennis Abukuse, African Rally Champion Karan Patel, and Kabaddi player Helvic Simiyu.