JASON EDWARD DUNFORD, 25, has represented Kenya in many international swimming competitions and won many medals. SHIRLEY GENGA discovers that his success did not come easy
When did you start swimming?
My love for water began when I was three years old — my parents told me I loved being in water. I began swimming at the age of five and then swam competitively for the first time when I was seven.
Tell us a little about yourself and your family...
I have two brothers — an older brother Robert, 27, and younger brother David, 23. My father has always been oceanic. He is enthusiastic about surfing and deep-sea fishing, so we spent a lot of time at the Kenyan Coast when we were young.?
Which schools did you go to?
I went to Kenton College in Nairobi for my primary school and when I turned 13, I went to Marlborough College in the UK for secondary education. I was following in my elder brother’s footsteps.
Why did you decide not to go to a school that specialised in swimming?
When I was at Kenton College, I got the chance to participate in a variety of sports. I have always loved sports, so I participated in rugby, tennis and running. Marlborough College also offered a variety of sports. I did not want to settle on swimming alone, because I didn’t think I would go far in it. In fact, I assumed my swimming career would be over by the time I was 16. I was good at it, but I could not compare with other children of my age in Australia or America.
What made you realise you could pursue swimming?
In my third year at Marlborough College, a business teacher and swimming coach, Peter O’Sullivan, encouraged me to pursue swimming competitively. He was a former Great Britain international swimmer. He made me realise that with dedication, determination and training, I could break boundaries. I then began to think in terms of competing internationally and also making it for the Olympics in Beijing in 2008.
What happened next?
