Kenya 7s and Strathmore Leos forward George Ooro has reflected on the challenging path he had to take on his way to national team success.

Popularly referred to as Japolo or King George, the self-proclaimed king vividly narrates his journey from the humble estates on the outskirts of Kisumu City to being days away from gracing the biggest sporting spectacle world round.

Ooro’s early rugby journey

Speaking to Olympics Kenya, Ooro who is set for his debut Olympic Games after being included in the final squad headed to Paris says his humble beginnings playing estate rugby, bare feet and without any elaborate safety measures forced him to toughen up, something that has come to shape his personality and style of play.

He describes his early rugby experiences and the important role his mother played during that period.

“In Kisumu we have estate clubs like Nyalenda and Nyamasaria. During COVID we used to form teams and play against each other and that’s where I got to learn. Playing without boots and without an ambulance forces you to become strong. Going back home I would find some good food. My mom always had porridge prepared which was a good source of carbs, “ Japolo described.

Perhaps it is the toughness gained early on that led him to Strathmore University in search of both study and club rugby experience.

A first-time rejection during trials at the varsity side could not get in his way, as the 24-year-old insists on the importance of giving disappointments some room in your plans.

“In life, you have to leave room for disappointment everywhere. After high school I came for trials at Strathmore, I was told I was so tiny and not good enough then. So COVID happened and I went back home and trained hard before making a comeback at KCA,” he says.

“One day I came back to Strathmore to train and I was told I had become better and grown bigger in size too. I took the offer immediately because I had bonded well with the team the first time I was there. That was a no-brainer.”

Ooro was instrumental in Strathmore Leos’ blistering run during the 2023 KRU 7s circuit where the varsity side pulled off impressive performances to finish third overall. The forward emerged as the MVP and top try scorer of the 2022 Prinsloo 7s.

The Shujaa forward has exhumed confidence ahead of the Summer Games in Paris, even taunting a match-up against World Series winners Argentina who have been bullish in recent times.

“I really want Argentina, I think I have trained enough. I want to link up with Gonzalez,” he adds.

Kenya will take on SVNS League winners and world number two Argentina, Australia, and Samoa in the Olympic Pool B encounters.