MUCHAI-‘MY DISABILITY MY PRECIOUS GIFT’

Disability is natural. We must stop believing that disabilities keep a person from doing something. Because that’s not true!

These are words that have been echoed by World Paralympic gold medalist Samuel Muchai who has challenged persons with disability to stop negative mentality about their state of body. 

Throughout history, disability has been closely linked with poverty, poor nutrition, inadequate health care or lack of opportunity for exercise and socialization. 

But 28 year old Samuel Muchai is a living example of a person who has turned disability into an opportunity. Born in a family of four, Muchai lost his sight at the age of nine.  During his studies in High school, Muchai realized that he can run for long distances without easily getting tired. 

It is here then that he turned athletics into his hobby. His hard work, determination and passion helped him get a slot into the Kenya national Paralympics team in 2007. 

This is the year that Muchai represented the country in the Algeria Paralympic grand prix clinching his first ever gold medal in 1500m. The following year, he had another opportunity to represent the country where he featured in the Beijing Paralympic games. This time round he clinched a Silver medal in 1500m race. 

In 2009 and 2010, Muchai was not very active in international championships until 2011 during the World Paralympic championships in New Zealand. He won Kenya another Silver medal in his race. In 2012, Muchai set a new world record in 1500m Paralympic race, a time of 3mins 58.37 secs in London. But in 2015, he featured in two races; the Tunisia Grand Prix where he won a gold medal in the 800m race and a Bronze medal in 400m during the All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. 

In 2016 Rio Olympic games, Muchai clinched two gold medals in 1500 and 5000m races. Last year, his splendid performance saw him win another gold medal in London during the World Para athletics games. He was named the country’s Sports Personality of the year at the start of this year.