Deaflympics: Kipkogei wins marathon silver as Kenya wraps up competition with 15 medals

Kenya’s veteran deaf athlete David Kiptum Kipkogei on Tuesday clinched the silver medal in the men’s marathon at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics.

Kipkogei, 46, crossed the finish line on the Tokyo Expressway in 2:17:30 behind Sweden’s Otto Kingstedt, who claimed the gold medal in 2:16:10.

Colombia’s Jose Libardo won the bronze medal in 2:23:50. In the women's marathon, Kenya finished empty-handed after both Serah Kimani and Grancy Kandagor failed to complete the race.

In total, Kenya won 15 medals in the Games - five gold, six silver and four bronze.

Heading into the marathon races, Kenya had hoped to conclude her campaign in the competition on a high by winning gold medals in both events.

However, it was not to be with the biting cold, and morning showers taking a heavy toll on the athletes. Initially, a Kenyan gold medal in the men’s marathon looked realistic as Kipkogei, and two-time Deaflympics marathon silver medalist Peter Toroitich led the pack toe-to-toe.

Toroitich was the first to fade at the 30km mark with what looked to be a hamstring injury. He did not finish the race.

Left alone at the front, Kipkogei soldiered on though he too looked to be uncomfortable.

With about two kilometers to go, Kingstedt surged ahead and never looked back.

“I would like to thank God because this is my first time participating in the marathon at the Deaflympics and I have won a silver medal,” said Kipkogei after the grueling race.

“My goal was to get a gold medal but I experienced some leg crumps. I still pushed myself, and I’m happy that I got a silver,” he added. It is the second silver medal Kipkogei won at the competition as he finished second in the men’s 10,000m on Monday last week.

Despite the disappointment of not dominating the races, Kenya’s deaf athletics coach Samuel Kibet said he is happy with the performance of his athletes.

“Because we missed the marathon in the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil, I’m seeing the silver we have won as a good comeback and we want to pray that in the next Deaflympics, we are going to do much better,” said Kibet.

On his part, Jaxon Indakwa, the Director Sports congratulated Team Kenya for putting up a strong performance at the championships. “So far we have 15 medals including five gold and that is not a mean feat. On top of that we have a world record for the Deaflympics. This is something which is really exemplary and we want to congratulate the 5, 000m runner (Ian Wambui) for breaking the world and deaflympic record. Even those who did not win a medal, they gave their best,” said Indakwa.

He promised that the Ministry of Sports will continue to support deaf athletes to take part in various competitions.

Kenya’s Medal Tally and Records at the Tokyo 2025 Summer Deaflympics held in Japan