Kenya’s para-cycling team is flying the flag high after clinching 12 medals at the ongoing Para Track African Championships at the Cairo International Velodrome in Egypt.

Leading the charge were Samwel Mwangi (C3) and Dedan Ireri (C2), who each scooped three gold medals. Mwangi dominated the C3 sprint, scratch, and pursuit events against Egypt’s Aymen Ahmed, while Ireri swept the board in the C2 sprint, 1km time trial, and scratch race-all uncontested.

Visually impaired cyclist Felistus Kaveva delivered a solid performance in the B category, bagging three silver medals. She was narrowly edged out by Nigeria’s Favour Omo Ojiaebu in the pursuit, sprint, and time trial races.

Paralympian Kennedy Ogada, who is also visually impaired, earned three bronze medals in the men’s B events.

Medal haul

Para track cycling takes place in velodromes, banked indoor tracks designed for high-speed racing. Events are grouped by physical ability: C2 for cyclists with above-the-knee amputations, C3 for those with below-the-knee amputations, and B for visually impaired riders, who race in tandem with sighted pilots.

Due to low participation in some classes, races are sometimes combined, though final results are categorized by class. In scratch races, riders begin en masse with the first across the line declared the winner, while individual pursuit involves chasing down a competitor or posting the fastest time.

Sprint events feature head-to-head matchups from the starting line.

Growing sport

The Para Track African Championships are taking place ahead of the main African Track Cycling Championships for able-bodied athletes, which will wrap up on Friday, May 16, 2025, at the same Cairo venue.

Kenya has not fielded a team for that event.

The competition comes months after Kenya hosted the African Road Cycling Championships in Eldoret in October4, a testament to the country’s growing footprint in African cycling.