Kenya at the 1996 Summer Paralympics

Kenya competed at the 1996 Summer Paralympics. The country sent a 17 strong athlete delegation to Atlanta, United States.

Kenya at the
1996 Summer Paralympics
IPC codeKEN
NPCKenya National Paralympic Committee
in Atlanta
Competitors17 (11 men and 6 women)
Medals
Gold
1
Silver
1
Bronze
0
Total
2
Summer Paralympics appearances (overview)

Team edit

17 athletes, 11 men and 6 women, represented Kenya at the Games in Atlanta, United States.[1][2][3] This was the largest delegation that Kenya has ever sent to a Paralympic Games.[3] The team included Mary Nakhumica, who was making her second Paralympic Games appearance as a 17-year-old.[4]

Background edit

In many parts of Black Africa, people who have disabilities that include intellectual disabilities, and physical disabilities such as impairments and deformities often face cultural barriers to participation because of attitudes related to their disabilities. These include beliefs that they acquired their disabilities because their parents were witches or they are wizards. Their disability is often seen as a result of a personal failing on their part. As such, there is often tremendous cultural pressure for people with physical disabilities to remain hidden and out of the public eye. In many places, they are perceived to be monsters in need of healing.[5][6] In a Kenyan context, the "bad blood" of people with disabilities is thought to also impact their families, creating further stigma for the person with the disability.[5]

Medals edit

Kenyan Paralympians won two medals at these games, one gold and one silver.[4][7] The team included Mary Nakhumica.[4] Mary Nakhumicha was back from Barcelona for the Atlanta Games. Building on her success at the previous Games, she won silver in the women's javelin throw. [4]

Medal Name Sport Event
  Gold Christopher Moori Athletics Men's javelin F41
  Silver Mary Nakhumicha Athletics Women's javelin F55-57


See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games: Kenya". paralympic.org. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  2. ^ Lauff, Jackie (2007). Developing Country Participation in International Disability Sport Competition: A Historical Perspective (PDF) (Master's thesis). Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Committee, Alexander Picolin, International Paralympic. "IPC Historical Results Archive - Country Web". db.ipc-services.org. Archived from the original on 2016-11-15. Retrieved 2016-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b c d "Kenya Paralympics - Rio 2016 Medals, Athletes & News". www.paralympic.org. Retrieved 2016-10-27.
  5. ^ a b Gilbert, Keith; Schantz, Otto J.; Schantz, Otto (2008-01-01). The Paralympic Games: Empowerment Or Side Show?. Meyer & Meyer Verlag. ISBN 9781841262659.
  6. ^ Crawford, J. (2004). Constraints of Elite Athletes with Disabilities in Kenya. Dissertation submitted for the degree of Master of Science in Leisure Studies in the Graduate College of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
  7. ^ "Kenya". Rio 2016. Archived from the original on 2016-09-22. Retrieved 2016-10-27.