Sport | Other Sports
Wanyoike shows the way
Henry Wanyoike of Kenya may be blind, but that did not prevent him from finishing second in the 10km race. "I am blind but my love for running beckons me to compete," Wanyoike told Gulf News.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 00:00 January 13, 2007
- Image Credit: Karl Jeffs/Gulf News
- Henry Wanyoike, may be blind, but that did not prevent him from finishing second in the 10km race.
Dubai: Henry Wanyoike of Kenya may be blind, but that did not prevent him from finishing second in the 10km race.
"I am blind but my love for running beckons me to compete," Wanyoike told Gulf News.
"I turned blind on April 1, 1985. A minor stroke damaged my optic nerve and blinded me for life. I was a good sportsman before I went blind. I refused to confine myself to bed and continued to train. I went on to win the 5,000-metre Paralympics gold medal in Sydney," said Wanyoike, who broke four world records and had been nominated twice for the Laureus Sports Award. He also won the United Nations Personality of the Year award.
"It was my dream to be a champion and I am happy to show the way. I have inspired many blind people to return to sport," said Waynoike, who travels to marathon events as a goodwill ambassador
"My partner Joseph Kibunja runs behind me and guides me. That is how I run despite not being able to see," he said.
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