After a brilliant performance at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan, Ian Wambui Kahinga, the new world and Deaflympics 5,000 metres record holder, was welcomed back to a heroic reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi.
The 24-year-old athlete from Nyahururu, shocked the entire world of athletics by not only breaking the world record but also the Deaflympics record in the 5,000 metres. He did it in a time of 13 minutes 52.83 seconds to win the gold medal. He took down the record that was set by Kenyan Symon Kibai at the 2013 Games in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Wambui’s victory was a double as well. After winning the men’s 10,000 metres, he went on to add a second gold medal to his collection in Tokyo, thus becoming one of Kenya’s bright stars in deaf athletics.
His family, friends, athletics officials, and supporters were at JKIA in large numbers to welcome him back and celebrate his historic achievement. They applauded him for being Kenya’s flag bearer at the global stage.
