Kenya’s taekwondo icon and Olympian Faith Ogallo has once again demonstrated her dominance on the African stage, seizing gold at the African Open Series Zone 5 Championship in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This commanding victory in the +73kg weight category has guaranteed her a place at the prestigious African Taekwondo Championships Finals, set for later this year in Mali.
Ogallo battled top-tier athletes from Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Somalia, outclassing her opponents with a combination of power, agility, and tactical precision. Her victory not only reaffirms her status as one of Africa’s finest fighters but also serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring athletes across Kenya, particularly young women breaking into combat sports.
“This medal is for Kenya, my coaches, and every young girl daring to dream,” Ogallo said shortly after her win. “Taekwondo has shaped my character, built my resilience, and shown me how sport can transform lives.”
Faith’s rise to prominence is a testament to her remarkable determination and adaptability. Originally a basketball player at Kibabii University, she made an unexpected transition to taekwondo and stunned the sporting world by clinching her first gold just three months into her new discipline, at the Rwanda Korean Ambassadors Championship. That breakthrough moment was the spark for an illustrious career in martial arts.
Her international debut came at the 2019 African Games in Rabat, Morocco, where she secured a silver medal in the +73kg category. She followed this up by qualifying for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics through the African Olympic Qualification Tournament a historic achievement for Kenyan taekwondo. In Tokyo, Ogallo achieved a commendable 7th-place finish in the women’s +67kg division. Her medal haul continued with a bronze at the 2021 African Taekwondo Championships, cementing her reputation as a consistent force in the sport.
Away from competition, Ogallo is passionate about leadership and athlete development. She holds a Diploma in Olympic Studies from the International Olympic Academy in Athens, Greece training that deepened her understanding of the Olympic movement, sports diplomacy, and peace-building through sport.
“My mission goes beyond winning medals,” she emphasized. “I want to mentor, to promote peace, and to prove that sport can rewrite stories and open doors for countless young people.”
This mentorship was on full display in Addis Ababa, where Ogallo coached her protégé, Patience Neema Mwagandi, a Criminology student at Kibabii University. With Ogallo’s guidance and encouragement, Patience defied the odds to qualify for the African Championships Finals in the -67kg category.
“Coach Faith is not just a coach she’s my inspiration,” Patience said. “Her belief in me made me believe in myself, and now we are both heading to Mali. She’s a mentor, a motivator, and a big sister all in one.”
While the victory in Ethiopia is cause for celebration, Ogallo is candid about the challenges she faces back home in preparing for elite competitions.
“Lack of proper training facilities in Bungoma is a major challenge for me,” she admitted. “We don’t have a fully equipped gym or specialized taekwondo training centers, which makes it difficult to prepare at the highest level. I’m doing my best with what is available, but better infrastructure would make a huge difference for me and for upcoming athletes.”
Her acknowledgment points to a broader issue in Kenyan sports the need for investment in modern training infrastructure to support athletes striving for international success.
In response to these challenges, Ogallo is taking matters into her own hands. She is spearheading a bold initiative to establish the Faith Ogallo Climate-Smart World-Class Sports Facility at Kibabii University. This visionary project aims to set new standards for sports infrastructure in Kenya by combining elite training spaces with sustainable, eco-friendly designs. The facility will cater to taekwondo and other disciplines, providing a hub for athlete development, youth engagement, and community empowerment.
“Kenya is rich in talent, but access to modern facilities remains a barrier, especially in lesser-known sports like taekwondo,” Ogallo explained. “This project will change that. It’s not just about sport it’s about excellence, the environment, and empowering future generations.”
The facility will incorporate renewable energy solutions, rainwater harvesting, and green building materials, positioning it as a model of climate-smart sports development. Ogallo’s vision merges sporting ambition with environmental responsibility, reflecting a commitment to both personal excellence and global sustainability.
As she continues her journey toward the African Championships Finals in Mali, Ogallo remains a towering figure not only for her achievements in the ring but for her relentless drive to uplift Kenyan sport and pave the way for others.
From clinching gold to laying the foundations for a greener, stronger sporting future, Faith Ogallo stands as a true symbol of resilience, leadership, and hope.
