By ERICK OCHIENG’
Despite losing his sight in childhood after suffering a bout of malaria, Francis Thuo Karanja, 37, has overcome all odds to become one of the most celebrated blind runners after Henry Wanyoike.
His determination has earned him an enviable long standing title, the European Non Governmental Organisation Light For The World Goodwill Ambassador.
When he ventured into athletics in 1999 with James Kuria Karanja, his running partner who also happens to be his brother and mentor, Thuo never knew greater things lay a head of them.
The two trained in the rugged terrains of Kabazi location, Nakuru County, for a year before they took part in races and championships. Thuo has since become one of the fastest blind runners in the world.
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Their breakthrough came in 2004 when Thuo was identified and called for trials by the Kenya National Paralympics Committee. He represented Kenya in the same year in Greece, Athens Paralympic Games where Kenya won three gold, silver and three bronze with Thuo bagging bronze in T11 5,000m speciality.
winning gold
In the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, Thuo decided to participate in three categories T11 (5,000m, 1,500 and 10,000m) and won silver in 5,000m besides finishing fifth in the men’s 1,500m and 10,000m heats. However, this never discouraged him from long distance races.
Thuo, who is confident of winning gold in London, decided to take part only in 5,000m.
“I thank God that all through this year, I have trained without injuries. Owing to the kind of training we have done, we will definitely get gold in London,” Thuo told FeverPitch before Team Kenya flew to London on Monday.
Thuo said he will give his all to make Kenya, more so his wife and children, proud in London.
He is confident of winning the gold since Wanyoike, his greatest rival who has denied him that gold severally, has switched to T11 marathon in London.
Thuo clinched a ticket to London after finishing third in the World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 2010.
Apart from being his training partner and mentor, Kuria helps Thuo to advocate for the rights of the visually impaired and disabled persons in developing countries.
