In the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Paralympics Game, Brazilian Yeltsin Jacques bagged gold in the 5000m, T 11 brushing aside Kenya’s Rodgers Kiprop and Wilson Bii who finished fourth and ninth respectively.
Kiprop had the potential to win the gold until the last three laps when he ran out of gas under the immense heat inside the stadium.
He stated that the heat undermined their tactics together with Bii who finished ninth.
“I trained really well at high altitude, but I was not prepared for this kind of heat,” stated Bii.
Kiprop after the race stated that he took home a lot of lessons from Tokyo, this being his first time to represent Kenya at that level.
He also passed a message to fellow Kenyans living with whatever disability that the Paralympics is the ultimate stage and that they can make it just as he did.
“The Paralympics offers great opportunities, and so as a country let us bring forward those athletes with different impairments to try to take up the sport they would like to participate in,” Kiprop said.
Saturday’s, August 28th fixtures include Men’s 1500m (T46) Final whereby Kenya will be represented by Felix Kipruto, then 1500m Heats represented by Nancy C.Koech and Women’s Rowing Repêchage closes tomorrow’s games with team Kenya being represented by Asiya Mohammed.