Paralympian: Henry Wanyoike

Paralympian: Henry Wanyoike

He was born on 10^th May 1974 in Kikuyu, Kiambu County. He is a Marathon world record holder and triple Paralympics gold medalist. He started his running career while still in school and in 1995, he suddenly lost his sight to a stroke. After the ordeal, Wanyoike never gave up and went along to win his first gold medal at the Paralympics Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000.

Henry with Kibunja
image source: henrywanyoikefoundation.org

Wanyoike has over the years worked with his childhood friend, Joseph Kibunja as his guide. Other achievements to his illustrious career include:

Gold (10,000m) in the 2002 IPC Athletics World Championships Lille

Two Gold Medals (5,000m, 10,000m) in the Athens 2004 Paralympics Games

Winner and world record holder in the half marathon (1:10:26) at the Hong Kong Marathon in 2004

Silver (10,000m) in the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships Assen

Bronze (5,000m) in the Beijing 2008 Paralympics Games

His world record of 2:31:31 for blind runners at the Hamburg Marathon in 2005 still stands. Wanyoike will be part of the team to the London 2012 Games that start on August 29.

His foundation, the Henry Wanyoike Foundation has been in the community outreach and helping the disabled in the society.

He has been awarded the Grand Warrior medals by the former president Daniel Moi and the current H.E Mwai Kibaki.

Other notable Paralmpians to grace the tracks:

Henry Kiprono Kirwa, a triple Paralympian gold medalist having won in the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, 1500m and 5,000m in the T13 category and 10,000m in the T12 event. 

Francis Thuo Karanja, he won a silver medal in the men’s 5,000m at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing in the T11 event.

Abraham Cheruiyot Tarbei, two-time Paralympian gold medalist at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing in the T46 event.

Samwel Mushai Kimani, he won a silver medal in the 1,500m at the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing in the T11 event.