Eyes on fourth African Championships title for race walker Gathimba

‎Three-time African Championships 20km race walk champion Samuel Gathimba is confident of adding a fourth continental crown during the event planned for May 12–17 in Accra, Ghana.

The seasoned Kenyan race walker made his African Championships debut in Marrakech, Morocco, in 2014, where he announced his arrival with a silver medal after clocking 1:27:11.

‎South Africa’s Lebogang Shange claimed gold in 1:26:58, while Algeria’s Mohamed Ameur completed the podium with bronze in 1:27:48.

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‎Gathimba would return two years later in Durban, South Africa, to seize his maiden title after posting a course and national record time of 1:19:24. ‎Tunisia’s Hassanine Sebei settled for silver in 1:20:51, with Shange completing the podium in 1:21:41.

‎The Kenyan ace successfully defended his crown at the 2018 edition in Asaba, Nigeria, breasting the tape in 1:25:14 to secure back-to-back titles.

‎Shange followed closely in second after timing 1:25:25, while Sebei rounded off the podium in an identical time. ‎Gathimba completed his continental hat-trick in 2022 in Saint Pierre, Mauritius, where he once again stamped his authority on the field, powering to victory in 1:22:01.

‎South Africa’s Wayne Snyman took silver in 1:22:05 while Ethiopia’s Yohanis Algaw claimed bronze in 1:22:21. ‎With his sights firmly set on further rewriting the history books, the veteran race walker says the mission in Accra is to chase a record fourth African title.

‎“I don’t think any race walker has won four titles before at the African Championships. ‎“That will be my target this year. I will be chasing my fourth gold in Ghana,” Gathimba said in an exclusive interview with The Star.

‎The experienced walker revealed he has adjusted his training programme, shifting his focus towards the marathon race walk to sharpen both endurance and pace ahead of the continental showdown.

‎“I switched my training to the full marathon race walk. It helps me a lot to build endurance, and I also include speed work to remain competitive in the 20km race walk,” he added. ‎“By the time the African Championships come, I am sure I will be ready.”

‎Despite his confidence, Gathimba remains cautious of emerging challengers, particularly Ethiopia’s Misgana Wakuma, who impressed on the global stage last year. He said, ‎"Ethiopia had a strong athlete at the Tokyo World Championships last year. I think he may be a threat, but I know I will be ready.”

‎Wakuma featured in the men’s 20km race walk in Tokyo, finishing 18th in 1:21:17. ‎Gathimba has already signalled strong form early in the 2026 season during the Athletics Kenya Weekend Meetings.

‎At the second meet held at Thika Stadium, he clocked 1:26:00 in the 20km race walk to finish second behind Stephen Ndangiri, who won the race in 1:24:37.

‎However, the seasoned campaigner bounced back to top form in the third weekend meet in Kapsabet, where he powered to victory in 1:23:59 ahead of Heristone Wanyonyi (1:25:58) and Peter Muigai (1:30:51).