Kenya’s sole medalist at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Samson Opiyo Ojuka, has been named the SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for September 2024. The Kenyatta University law student won a silver medal in the Long Jump T37 category, ensuring Kenya did not leave the prestigious event without a medal.
Ojuka achieved this feat with a new African record jump of 6.20 meters in the men’s long jump T37 event, held at the Stade de France on September 3. His remarkable performance marked a historic moment, as he became the first Kenyan to win a medal in long jump at either the Paralympic or Olympic Games.
This victory also makes Ojuka the first Kenyan to win a Paralympic medal in field events since Mary Nakhumicha’s silver in Javelin Throw at the Beijing 2008 Games. Ojuka is also the first Paralympian to win the SPOM award since Vincent Mutai in April 2019.
Ojuka, who had a personal best of 5.73 meters from the World Para Athletics Championships in May, went into the Paris 2024 Paralympics in top form. He finished second behind Brian Lionel from Argentina (6.42m) and ahead of Brazil’s Cardoso on a countback, both recording a distance of 6.20 meters. Ojuka broke the previous African record of 6.05 meters, set by South Africa’s Andrea Dalle Ave in 2015.
Born on April 13, 1996, in Nairobi, Ojuka’s sporting journey began at Maseno School, where he balanced football and athletics under the guidance of Paul Otula, now a member of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K). He later decided to focus on athletics after joining Kenyatta University in 2018, inspired by renowned athletes like Olympian Boniface Mweresa.
Ojuka’s athletic career took off when he competed in the World Grand Prix in Tunisia and Morocco in 2019, participating in the 100m, 200m, and long jump events. He made his debut at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, clocking personal bests in the 100m (12.39s) and 200m (25.19s) while finishing sixth in both events.
At the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris, Ojuka finished seventh in long jump with a personal best of 5.58 meters, while Argentina’s Lionel set a championship record of 6.67 meters. Ojuka continued his upward trajectory at the 2024 World Para Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan, where he improved his career best to 5.73 meters, earning his spot at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Ojuka’s Reaction to the Award
Upon receiving the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month award, Ojuka expressed his surprise and gratitude, saying:
“I’m happy to win the LG/SJAK Sport Personality of the Month for September. I’m surprised to be chosen. It is a big motivation to get this award. It will make me work even harder to shine in upcoming major championships such as the Commonwealth Games in 2026 and Los Angeles Paralympic Games 2028.”
Ojuka, who was under the tutelage of coach Henry Nzungi during the Paris 2024 Paralympics, has a deformed right arm known as Erb’s Palsy, a condition he has overcome to achieve remarkable success in athletics.
To win the prestigious monthly award, Ojuka edged out tough competition from notable Kenyan athletes, including Diamond League winners Faith Kipyegon (1,500m), Emmanuel Wanyonyi (800m), and Mary Moraa (800m), as well as Faith Cherotich and Amos Serem (3,000m steeplechase), and Beatrice Chebet (5,000m).
Other nominees for the award included cricketer Rakep Patel, rugby stars Amon Wamalwa, Darwin Mukidza, and Dennis Abukuse, as well as Karan Patel, the newly-crowned African Rally Champion, and Helvic Simiyu from Kabaddi.
Speaking on behalf of LG Electronics, Dongwon Lee, the Managing Director for East Africa, praised Ojuka’s resilience:
“This award allows us as LG Electronics to strengthen sports cohesion among our sports champions and communities across diverse disciplines. Our commitment is to ensure that the desire, dream, and vision of our sports personalities do not wither. For us, it is very important to recognize exceptional talent, and Ojuka is certainly deserving of the September award.”
