Kirwa delivers another gold for Kenya at Paralympic Games
Henry Kirwa lived true to his billing by clinching Kenya’s third gold medal after winning the T13 men’s 5,000m finals at the 2016 Paralympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on Thursday.
Kirwa covered the race in 14 minutes, 17.32seconds, a personal best, to claim top honours ahead of Chentouf El Amin of Morocco who settled for silver in 14.21.04.
Tunisian Aloui Bilel bagged bronze in 14.33.33, while highly rated Canadian Ouellet Guillaume finished a distant fourth in 14.54.07.
The impressive performance was a culmination of hard work for the Kenyan athlete who claimed triple gold medals in Beijing, China in 2008 (1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m).
MEDAL HAUL
This was Kirwa’s second medal having won bronze in the men’s 1,500m last week and with his latest victory, Kenya is now placed 30th in the medals’ table with five medals (3 gold and 2 bronze). At the 2012 London Games, Kenya won six medals (2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze).
Kenya’s quest for more medals continue on Friday when sprinter Henry Nzungi competes in the T12 200m semis. This is Nzungi’s only chance to claim a medal after being disqualified for lane infringement in the 400m heats.
Meanwhile, Nancy Chelagat, will also be hoping to qualify for the T11 women’s 1,500m finals on Saturday. Chelagat had a bad outing in the 200m heats where she finished last.
