Lucas Wandia in action during the men's 3000m steeplechase/KSFD
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Wandia claimed his third consecutive Deaflympics gold in the 3,000m steeplechase, crossing the line in 9:06.95, with Kenyan teammate Jacob Kibet securing the silver in 9:09.16.
China's Xi Kuantian took the bronze in 9:09.88. Despite a dramatic fall at the water barrier in the second lap, Wandia’s resilience paid off, and he pushed through to claim the top spot once again.
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"I have been praying so hard for this. It is not an easy task," Wandia said after the race.
"Before I left Kenya, I promised that I would come back with a medal, be it gold, silver, or bronze. I’m happy to have brought home gold. When I fell, I decided not to stay down. Kenya is a very big nation, and I did not want to go back empty-handed."
Wandia’s victory is particularly sweet as it marks his third consecutive gold in the men’s steeplechase, having won in Sofia (2013), Samsun (2017), and Caxias do Sul (2022). His dedication to representing Kenya and his country’s expectations were key drivers in his win.
In the men’s 800m, Rono faced a tough challenge but managed to retain his title with a final time of 1:53.02.
He narrowly beat Japanese athlete Kousei Higuchi, who finished with a time of 1:53.22. Czech athlete Dalibor Tulak took third in 1:53.33. Despite being overtaken during the race, Rono’s final push in the closing stages sealed his victory.
"The competition was really tough," Rono said. "There were so many opponents, and we did not have enough space to run. But with about 100 meters to go, I decided to give it my all. I won by a small margin, but I’m really happy that I did it."
Both Wandia and Rono will receive Sh3 million each from the state for their remarkable achievements. Additionally, Rono will be awarded another Sh2 million for his silver in the men’s 1500m race.
The two athletes will also travel home in business class as part of their reward.
With their victories, Kenya’s medal tally at the Deaflympics now stands at 10—four gold, four silver, and two bronze—further cementing the country’s strong presence on the international stage.