Dj Vnyash
Kenyan Fencing Queen Alexandra Ndolo celebrates her achievement of putting Kenya on the map. She is among the Kenyan athletes competing in the 2024 Olympics and expresses her happiness at making an impact, as evidenced by the constant messages from her fans.
“For a long time, I believed I needed to win an Olympic medal to inspire and reach people, to give them hope. I thought if I didn’t achieve the highest honors (continental, world championship, and Olympic medals), I couldn’t contribute or leave my mark. While my personal goals remain the same, I now know that this belief was wrong. It turns out I have reached countless people.”
She added, “The messages from all of you were beyond my wildest imagination. I cannot express what this means to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I am proud and honored to have put Kenya on the fencing map and to have represented African sports on the biggest stage.”
Ndolo is still adjusting to the feeling of participating in the Olympics. “Still searching for the right words to say… For now, I just want to thank everyone who supported me along the way and those who always have my back. And thank you for all the messages I’ve received since yesterday; it’s great to see all the love and support. It will take some time to describe my feelings and thoughts, but I am beyond grateful for this experience and will come back stronger! Thank you 🫶🏾.”
She is the first Kenyan to compete in fencing at the Olympics, a combat sport involving sword fighting. Ndolo previously announced on social media that she had qualified for the 2024 Olympics, thanking her mom for her support. “Officially qualified and heading to Paris! Being in the Olympics AND being the first Kenyan to compete in Fencing is a dream come true! I’m ready to put in the hard work and represent Kenya with everything I’ve got on the big stage. Thanks to my family, friends, coaches, and club for supporting me thus far. Also, a special thanks to my mum for supporting me unconditionally throughout the last months. Grateful to have all of you around me. Let’s make history together!”
Ndolo had previously sought help from the Kenya Federation, stating she risked missing the Olympics. In November 2023, she expressed her frustrations via a social media post. “I will not be participating in the first Worldcup of the 2023/24 season. No Legnano for me. Yesterday, I faced a situation I have never experienced in 15+ years as a professional athlete. I arrived at the competition site and was informed that I had no hotel reservation and, more importantly, was not enrolled in the competition. I had asked my new Kenyan federation weeks ago to enroll me and make hotel reservations for my coach, physio, and me. Even if I had insisted on reserving the hotel myself (which I have done all of last season), I could not have enrolled in the competition myself. This can only be done by federations, not individual athletes.”
Ndolo added that if no intervention was made, she would miss the competitions. “I am beyond frustrated about this situation!! Not competing at this competition means I can’t defend the points I got at last year’s first Worldcup and, as a result, I will drop out of the top 16 in the world ranking. In addition, I will not be able to collect crucial points for the ongoing Olympic qualification. This level of unprofessionalism is in stark contrast to anything I stand for. Months of practice for nothing. But this will not break my determination or self-belief! I will go back home and focus on the next Worldcup in Vancouver.”
Silverio Omari
