NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenya’s rising skating sensation, Kevin Kiarie, has opened up about hurdles he overcame to reach the International Challenge Skating Championships in Benin.
In a social media post, Kiarie said despite the lack of official support, his grit saw him secure both a gold and a silver medal for his country.
The champion’s journey to the podium began at a bus stop. Unable to afford a taxi, Kiarie was forced to navigate the logistical nightmare of reaching the airport via public transport hours before his departure.
“Leaving for Airport, I had to use Matatu, I had very little left for spending, I couldn’t afford uber. For a flight leaving at 3am, I left at 10pm and arrived very early, because otherwise I wouldn’t find a matatu to the airport at 2am,” he shared on social media.
He defiantly added, “Regardless, We Won!”
Upon reaching Cotonou, the struggle remained fresh in his mind. After arrival and winning an emotional Kiarie reflected on the “fierce fight” required just to stand on the starting line.
“I am so excited for my result…it has been a very fierce fight, not only in the competition. Even making it here itself was a very fierce fight. I am super proud of myself and if I had to do it again…I would do it again for my country,” Kiarie said.
Kiarie’s performance was nothing short of dominant. He clinched gold in the freestyle discipline, a triumph that followed his silver-medal performance in the classic slalom category the previous day.
Despite the solitary nature of his victory, captured in a video of him celebrating alone on the podium with the Kenyan flag, Kiarie was quick to acknowledge his inner circle.
“To all the people…my family who supported me. Thank you very much…you are everything to me. The last thing I would want to do is to reach a breaking point. God is great,” he said.
While his success ignited nationwide celebration, it also sparked a heated debate regarding the government’s absence.
The sight of a lone Kenyan athlete conquering the continent without state officials or financial backing drew sharp criticism across social platforms.
Kevin Kiarie remains a beacon for the sport’s growing popularity and his historic run at the International Challenge Cotonou adds extra pressure on sports stakeholders to invest in the young Kenyans taking the world stage by storm.
