By Oscar Pilipili

Jason Dunford is arguably the most successful Kenyan swimmer of the current generation.

Dunford’s track record indicates that his career has been characterised with numerous firsts.

He was the first swimmer to win Kenya an international medal with a gold medal in 100m butterfly at African Swimming Championships in Dakar, Senegal in 2006.

Dunford was the one of the first two Kenyans, the other being his younger brother David, to ever qualify for Olympics when they made it to the 2008 Beijing Summer Games.

Previously, Kenyans went to the Olympics through wildcards.

Dunford, currently a student of human physiology at Stanford University in the US, was also the first Kenyan to claim a swimming medal at Commonwealth Games with gold in 50m butterfly.

These are just a tip of the iceberg in the numerous firsts scored by the swimming star in his illustrious career.

And as London City hosts this year’s Olympic Games, the big question Kenyans are asking is: Is this Dunford’s year to win his country the first Olympics medal in swimming?

Dunford believes he has the head and shoulder to bear the enormous weight of expectations placed on him by Kenyans.

“When I think of those moments, my immediate reaction is, ‘Oh, why can’t I be the first Kenyan to bag a swimming medal at Olympics,” he exclaimed. “I look back and say, Oh my God! If I have managed to achieve all these firsts, why can’t I extend the record to Olympics,” said Dunford in a recent statement.

He understands victory does not come on a silver platter and that is the reason to why he pitched his training camp in Europe.

Dunford qualified for the London Olympics during the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, China.

He recorded 51.59 seconds in 100m butterfly to finish fourth in the event.

The swimmer has witnessed great moments but the turning moment in his career came at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Dunford for a moment held the Olympics record overshadowing American swimming sensation Michael Phelps for seven glorious minutes.

He posted a new Olympic record after he completed 100m butterfly race in 51.14 on his way to the semi-finals in the Summer Games and simultaneously bettering his own Africa record.

The Kenyan sensation was, however, not lucky to stake a claim of any medal in the final which was eventually won by Phelps.

Despite the failure, Dunford had proved beyond doubt that he possesses all the qualities of a great swimmer.

He goes to the Olympics one year after winning Kenya’s first ever-swimming medal at the Commonwealth Games with gold in the 50m butterfly among other credentials.