Long jumper Samson Ojuka is among 14 para athletes that will represent Kenya at the Paris Paralympic Games scheduled from August 28 to September 8 in the French capital.
Ojuka qualified after the High Performance ranking after the World Para Athletics Championships held May 17-25 in Kobe, Japan this year.
Ojuka, who is making his debut at the Summer Paralympic Games, finished sixth in personal best 5.73metres in the event where Nazmi Mohammad from Malaysia won in 6.13m.
The team leaves on August 7 for the pre-Paralympic camp in Compiegne that is 79.3km north east of the French capital.
For the last one-and-half weeks, Ojuka has been focused on strength and conditioning under coach Henry Nzungi, a former two-time Paralympian at the Nyayo National Stadium.
“But I am looking forward to sharpening my technical part of the game that includes my speed on the runway, my step on board and landing,” said Ojuka, the final year law student at the Kenyatta University.
Ojuka said that he is certain he will be perfect as he prepares to leave for where he will have three weeks of training ahead of the athletics calendar starting August 30 to September 8 at the Stade de Paris.
“Since I am well-conditioned with power, my focus will be on techniques at Compiegne. I will do as many jumps as possible…the more the better and merrier,” said the 28-year-old Ojuka, who aims to attack his current personal best of 5.73m with a new career best of 6.5m.
“That distance will position me for a possible medal bracket performance with the current world lead standing at 6.5m, “explained Ojuka.” If I was able to jump 5.73 while stepping outside the board then I should be home and dry when I hit the board.”
Ojuka reckoned that he is no longer an amateur in the trade having participated in three world championships in 2019 Dubai, 2023 Paris and in May in Kobe, Japan.
He competed in 100m and 200m in Dubai, and long jump in Paris and 200m and long jump in Kobe.
“It’s my dream and hopes to carry the national fag higher in Paris,” said the Maseno School alumnus. He played as a striker for Maseno School before embracing athletics at Kenyatta University in 2018.
“I did 100m and 200m but thought to also channel my energies in jumps where I now look stronger,” said Ojuka.
Ojuka swept to victories in long jump, 100 and 200m at the Africa Para-Athletics Championships in Abuja, Nigeria.
Nzungi, who represented Kenya in 100m and 200m at the 2012 London and 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, said that he has worked Ojuka’s body conditioning and his techniques that are getting better daily.
Nzungi noted that Ojuka’s challenge was hitting the board both in 2023 Paris where he managed 5.58 and this year in Kobe where he did 5.73.
“He is now hitting the board and managing 6.0m and our target is 6.3m before we leave. He will be doing 6.50m in Paris,” said Nzungi.
Kenya will be represented in five disciplines at this year’s Paralympics; Athletics (8), cycling (2), taekwondo (2), rowing (1) and powerlifting(1)
