Ian Wambui powered to a Kenyan podium sweep in the men’s 5,000m after smashing a decade-old Deaflympics world record, as David Kiptum Kipkogei sealed Kenya’s campaign at the 2025 Summer Deaflympics with a silver medal in the men’s marathon on Monday, 24th, in Tokyo, Japan.
Wambui, running stride-for-stride with compatriot James Musembi for most of the race, broke away on the final lap to claim his second gold medal of the Games.
He obliterated the previous world record of 14:02.90—set by Symon Kibai at the 2013 Sofia Games—by an astonishing 51 seconds, setting a new mark of 13:52.83.
Musembi secured silver in 14:15.28, adding to the 1,500m gold he won last Wednesday, while Nicholas Kipkorir clinched bronze in 14:43.35 to complete the Kenyan sweep.
Wambui, who also won the 10,000m title last Monday, revealed that his training program had been specifically geared toward breaking the world record.
In the women’s 5,000m, Viola Jelimo captured bronze in 17:26.83. Portugal’s Mira Da Silva.M won gold in 17:26.23, with Abubiakirova Luiia Emiyevna taking silver in 17:26.78.
Kenya missed out on a medal in the men’s 4x400m after Simon Menza was tripped by a Japanese athlete and fell.
An appeal was dismissed after officials ruled that Menza, who could not get up, was unable to finish the race.
Meanwhile, Kipkogei closed Team Kenya’s outing with a strong performance in the men’s marathon, taking silver in 2:17:30. Sweden’s Otto Kingstedt won gold in 2:16:10, while Colombia’s Jose Libardo settled for bronze in 2:23:50.
It was a difficult race for the Kenyan women, with Serah Kimani and Grancy Kandagor forced to withdraw from the marathon due to harsh weather conditions.
Director of Sports Jaxon Indakwa commended Team Kenya for their tally of 15 medals—five gold, six silver and four bronze—adding that the Ministry of Sports would continue to support Kenyan athletes.
