Kibai re-affirms his track supremacy in Eldoret

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Simon Kibai, the world 5,000m deaflympics record holder, showed his might by winning the 10,000m race in Eldoret during the Safaricom national deaf athletics championships yesterday.

Getting huge support from his wife and daughter among other fans, Kibai clocked 30:24:3 just a few seconds before 2008 Turkey World marathon champion Peter Toroitich crossed the line.

“I came with my daughter so that she can see what I am doing. I want her to see and learn about success. I want to motivate her to become an athlete someday,” said Kibai.

He added: “I get the energy to go and practice every day because I am supported by my family. If I win gold medals in all the races, I will be definitely participating in Turkey.”

Kibai will be representing Kenya in the 2017 deaflympics games in Turkey in July  in the 1500m, 5000m and 10,000m races.

He won gold in the 10,000m, 5,000m and 1,500m races in 2013 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

In 2012, he won silver in the 1,500m race at the World Championships in Toronto, Canada.

His turning point came in 2012 when he had separated from his wife something that left him disillusioned. He embarked on training where he met deaflympics 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Lucas Wandia.

In an interview with The Standard that year, he claimed that his wife was not supportive of his vision thus straining their relationship.

But all is well for the couple now and this gives Kibai a chance to show his athletics prowess and bring home the coveted medals from Turkey in July.