If you have ever watched a walking race, then you may be guilty of letting out a chuckle or two. The sport requires athletes to always have at least one foot on the ground. This means keeping their front leg straightened until the back leg touches the ground – the result of which is admittedly hilarious to most. The sport, however, is misunderstood due to this perception and remains in the shadow of running events. This widespread ridicule of the sport is a hurdle our very own racewalker Heristone Wafula knows all too well.
An Unpopular Choice
Born in West Pokot, Heristone would walk more than 10 kilometres between home and school. Though he engaged in a mix of running and walking, his coach at the time advised him to give racewalking a try and he was inspired by racewalkers he watched competing on the world stage. As he pondered on the issue of getting proper racewalking shoes which cost a pretty penny, Heristone was met with sneers from surrounding neighbours who wondered why he would not just run. To them, walking seemed a farce.
Steeled by the sporting background in his family from his national volleyball player of a sister and football playing father, Heristone knew he could not give up on his dream. And before he knew it, he could walk much faster than he could run.
A Winning Strategy
The time came for Heristone to put his training to the test and he competed in the World Athletics U20 Championships in 2021. During practice he had learned that walking races took serious strategy. During the race, the words of his coach rang in his mind, and he stayed close to the first six walkers in the first half of the race then closed in on the first three during the second half. Rather than speed to the front, Heristone bided his time in the leading pack and came out on top. His success meant he was the first ever African to win a gold medal in an international race-walking event!
Heristone has since become a force to be reckoned with and is highly recognised in the world of competitive racewalking. His stellar achievements include finishing fourth in the 2022 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat, Oman. Heristone’s time of 45:18 minutes is the Kenyan national record for the 10 km race. He hopes that he will one day hold the 20 km world record too and compete in the Olympics.
We are in awe of this Kenyan mchezaji who tuned out the noise to become a history-making racewalking champion!