A young Kenyan skater has captured national attention after clinching gold and silver medals at the International Challenge Cotonou Speed and Inline Freestyle Skating Championship in Benin, West Africa, all while representing Kenya single-handedly and funding his own journey.
Kelvin Kiarie Ruhiu, a former student at the Technical University of Kenya, secured gold in the Freestyle Battle and silver in the Classic Slalom events. Videos of his triumphant reaction upon returning, along with footage from the competition, have flooded social media platforms, amassing thousands of likes, reposts, and comments praising his resilience.
Kiarie reportedly covered his travel expenses privately while competing alone in Benin without official government or federation support. Many Kenyans expressed outrage online, questioning the Ministry of Sports and the responsible Cabinet Secretary for failing to back the athlete.
