History-making Kirwa plots for higher glory

Team Kenya captain to the 2012 Paralympics Henry Kiprono Kirwa is ready to take on the world in this year’s Games.

In the 2008 Games in Beijing, the 39-year-old made history as the most successful Kenyan athlete by winning three gold medals in three events.

No Kenyan Olympian or Paralympian has achieved a similar feat in the same edition of the games.
Born on May 4, 1973 in Samoo Village, Kapsabet, the visually-impaired Kirwa claimed three gold medals and set new Paralympic and World records in the events in Beijing.

He won the 1,500 metres T13 race in four minutes, 6.11 seconds, the 5,000m T13 in 14:24.02 and the 10,000m T12 in 31:42.97.

Kirwa, who turned to Paralympics in 2006, pocketed a total of Sh6.75 million from the government, Safaricom and Equity Bank following his track exploits.
Inspirational talk

More blessings came his way when he was appointed a United Nations ambassador in 2009, taking him to New Zealand and United States where he gave lectures and inspirational talks to university students.

He has invested wisely after purchasing 10 acres of tea plantation in Nandi Hills, 50 acres of sugar cane plantation near Chemelil besides putting up 200 rental houses in Eldoret town.

The father of three practices large scale farming at his 50-acre farm at Kapkakaon village in Kapsabet where keeps dairy cattle and grows cash crops.

This year, Safaricom has put pledged Sh1m to gold medal winners in London, as the government considers to match the amount.

More pledges
Mabati Rolling Mills have also pledged iron sheets and equipment worth Sh1.5m for each gold medallist at the Olympics and Paralympics and Kirwa has set his sights on collecting Sh7 million in cash awards when he returns from London as he seeks to defend two titles after the 10,000m races were cancelled.

“I want to prove that disability is not inability. They should never give up but train hard and smart then God shall provide,” said Kirwa, whose dream is to start a special school in Kapsabet in future.

Kirwa, who has set his sights on 2016 Olympics in Brazil, reckons he is in a better form than he was in Beijing after one month of training at the International Olympic Committee-sponsored sessions for Team Kenya in Iten, Eldoret and Nairobi.

Kenya will be sending 14 athletes and seven guides to London.

The country won five gold medals, three silver and one bronze in Beijing.

Kirwa embraced athletics in 1992, was enrolled in the Kenya Police and represented Kenya at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics in 1,500m and 5,000m races.

After running in several cross country races, he shifted to Paralympics in 2006 upon advised from Paralypian Christine Chepkirui.
Kirwa attended trials in Kapsabet and qualified for the nationals in 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m.

It’s from the nationals that he won both events to qualify for the 2007 Algiers All Africa Games where he won gold in 5,000m and silver in 1,500m.