Kirwa bags bronze in dramatic mens 1500m T13 tussle

Kenya’s Henry Kiprono Kirwa – a seasoned Paralympic champion – missed out on gold in the men’s 1500m T13 final at the Paralympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but settled for the bronze in the competitive race as the top four finishers clocked impressive times that would have secured them a gold in the same race for able-bodied athletes at the Olympic games that climaxed last month.

The 43-year-old who delivered a hat trick of gold medals at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic games in China clinching the honors in the Men’s 1500m T13 race, the 5000m and the 10,000m T12 categories was arguably the man to watch.

In the first 400m, Tunisian Hammami Bilel surged to the front and he dictated the pace of the race with Kirwa positioning himself in the middle of the group in 5th. Bilel remained in the summit for a significant duration of the race but with two laps to go, Agripino dos Santos of Brazil made his move but it cost him dearly as he lost his footing to relinquish his lead almost as soon as he had dislodged Hammami.

He faded out soon after but another Brazilian took up the reigns with Jacques Yelstin going ahead with 700m to go urged on by the partisan crowd at the Olympic stadium. Realizing that he could miss out on a podium finish, Kirwa stepped up to the plate in the final lap tracking the two Algerian siblings, Abdelatiff Baka and his twin brother Fouad Baka who took the lead from their fellow North African.

Ethiopian Tamiru Demissu took his chance with 150m to go as he seemingly had more gas in the tank passing Kirwa and pushed Abdelatiff to the edge to bag silver behind the 22-year-old as Kirwa settled for Bronze losing to athletes half his age.

Baka set a new world record time of 3 minutes 48.29 seconds, while Demisse clocked a personal best time of 3 minutes 48.49 seconds as Kirwa also clocked a PB of 3 minutes 49.59 seconds. Fouad Baka from Algeria was fourth in a time of 3 minutes 49.84 seconds.

-Ethiopian Protest-

Demisse crossed his arms above his head after finishing the race and repeated the gesture during the medal ceremony. The gesture is a sign of protest against Ethiopian government’s treatment of the Oromo people.

The protests were sparked after the government began extending the municipal boundary of the country’s capital, threatening parts of Oromia and the people’s land rights.

His gesture follows that of fellow athlete Feyisa Lilesa who also won silver behind Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge in the men’s marathon during the Olympic Games.

The top four’s times would have earned them the top plaudits in the Olympic Games for able-bodied athletes after American Mathew Centrowitz clocked 3 minutes 50 seconds at the same stadium in August.

Kirwa will be chasing more glory for Kenya in the Men’s 5000m T13 final on Thursday, 15th September 2016. Kenya currently has 3 medals; 1 Gold and 2 bronze at the Paralympic games in Brazil.

Men’s 1500M T13 Final

1. Algeria Abdelatiff Baka   3.48.29 WR
2. Ethiopia Tamiru Demisse 3.48.49 PB
3. Kenya Henry Kirwa 3.49.59 PB