Nakhumicha wins prestigious award

• Mary Nakhumicha to be awarded with the Whang Youn Dai Achievement award during the closing ceremony
• Nakhumicha, along with Ireland’s Michael McKillop were chosen as the athletes who exemplified the best spirit of the Paralympic Games
• Nakhumicha, who competed in the javelin, discus and shot put F57 at the London Games, has helped change the face of Paralympic sport in Africa

Twenty years after she making her debut at the 1992 Paralympic Games, Mary Nakhumicha will on Sunday night be awarded by the International Paralympic Committee with the Whang Youn Dai Achievement award during the closing ceremony.

Nakhumicha, along with Ireland’s Michael McKillop were chosen as the athletes who exemplified the best spirit of the Paralympic Games and they will receive a gold medal. The award will be presented by IPC Vice President Greg Hartung and Dr Whang Youn Dai.

“Because of my success in field events, more women with disabilities in my community and in Kenya have shown interest in sports,” Nakhumicha said. “People with disabilities, especially women are now getting involved with sports not just in athletics and field events but also in others sports as well like wheelchair basketball and sitting volleyball.”

The mission of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award is to enhance the will of people with an impairment to conquer their adversities through the pursuit of excellence in sports and through the Paralympic Games.

Won gold medal

Nakhumicha, who competed in the javelin, discus and shot put F57 at the London Games, has helped change the face of Paralympic sport in Africa.

She made her first appearance at the Paralympic Games in 1992 where she won a gold medal in the javelin F57. She currently holds the world and paralympic record for the javelin F57.

“If you look at the way she has done her sport, she was using branches and stones or anything she could find to practice her sport,” said Martin Okiyo, chef de mission of the Kenya Paralympic Team.