The greatest swimmer Kenya has ever had

He is 30 now, retired and describes this sport as a part of who he is.

Inarguably the greatest swimmer Kenya has ever had. His swimming exploits are unprecedented both in Kenya and in the region. In a career spanning 23 years, Jason Dunford, 30, has represented Kenya in multiple competitions, including the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, World Championships, All Africa Games, and Short Course World Championships. He is the first Kenyan swimmer to ever reach the swimming finals in the Olympics.

During his successful career, Jason, whose specialisation is butterfly and freestyle sprinting, has won numerous medals for Kenya, and is also the recipient of the Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW), presented to him by retired President Mwai Kibaki in 2006. When the history of the greatest Kenyan sportspersons is penned, his name will no doubt feature prominently.

His younger brother, David Harvey Dunford, has taken after him, having also represented Kenya on several occasions.

You are the greatest swimmer in Kenya’s history. What does this feat mean to you?

Representing Kenya and putting the country on the global stage of swimming gives me an overwhelming feeling of pride and patriotism. I am the first Kenyan to qualify for the Olympic Games in swimming. Everything I have achieved is as a result of the support I got from the people of Kenya, for which I am thankful.

You have spent virtually your entire life swimming…

Swimming is part of who I am. I am proud to have chosen this career. I was five when I began swimming while studying at Kenton College Preparatory School in Nairobi. I made it to the senior level in 2004 in the World Championships in Indianapolis. My most successful phase was between 2008 and 2011. There have been both high and low moments including the London Olympics in 2012, which was a huge disappointment for our swimming team. My last outing professionally was in 2014 during the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

What does the day of a professional swimmer involve?

It involves two daily training sessions in the morning and evening, totalling to six or seven hours. Then I recuperate through stretching, yoga and taking short power naps. A balanced diet low on sugars is necessary. I also eat plenty of proteins, fresh fruits and vegetables, which the country produces in large quantities.

You must have memorable moments of your career…

The 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi India where I won gold in the 50 metre Butterfly category were a special moment for me. Reaching the swimming finals in the Beijing Olympics in 2008 was elating. It was also an honour to be crowned Kenya’s Sportsman of the Year in 2007.

What is your take on the management of swimming as a sport in the country?

Lack of accountability and corruption in the governing bodies are the biggest challenge facing the sport in Kenya. Funding for swimming is also inadequate. A lot of infrastructural support such as well-maintained swimming pools is required. For the sport to develop, structural reforms in the sport’s administration must be initiated. There are many lessons Kenya could borrow from other countries that have successfully managed their sport.

Every career must have its downside. What notable events do you recall during your career?

I have worked sometimes with very frustrating officials. The federation is yet to refund my air ticket to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

Some officials took credit for my success while they had barely supported me. When someone is representing their country on a global scale, they should be given maximum support. Lack of moral support affects your psychological ability to perform.

Why do you think some Kenyan top athletes switch their allegiance to other countries?

It all boils down to sports management in Kenya, and the support accorded to home athletes. At the end of the day, athletes have to look after themselves, and when treatment is dismal and allowances low, it becomes hard to turn down attractive offers from overseas admirers. Chris Froome, who recently won the Tour de France is a Kenyan-born cyclist. If he had not changed his nationality to British, this would have been Kenya’s glory.

What is your advice to a young Kenyan who wishes to make a career out of swimming?

It is usually difficult to start swimming competitively at an advanced age. For one to compete professionally, one must have started out early. There are currently no academies that train swimmers in Kenya, therefore most learn how to swim through swimming courses and facilities offered in their schools. Professional swimmers like Michael Phelps of the US and Chad le Clos of South Africa earn millions from their careers. It is hard however to make a career purely out of swimming in Kenya due to limited opportunities, so it is important to also pursue other interests such as education.

What did you study in university?

I graduated from Stanford University in 2009 with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. I thought I could pursue medicine as a career, but along the way I realised it was not what I wanted to do. In 2012, I completed my Master’s of Science in Environmental Science. I am currently in the last year of my Master in Business Administration at Stanford Graduate School of Business.

You retired quite early - at 27 years. What have you been doing since?

I retired early to focus on other areas of my life and represent the country in other avenues. I worked for American energy company, Sunrun, where I appreciated the role of renewable forms of energy in combating the global challenge of climate change. I have started my own energy firm, Safigen, a customised real-time, cloud-based, energy management platform.

I will return to Kenya to run it after my studies. Later, I wish to be involved in administration of the sport.