When Kenyan athletes step onto the global stage, the nation holds its breath.
We celebrate medals, records, and triumphs. Yet behind every performance lies a support team working quietly to keep the athletes healthy and ready.
In Tokyo this year, I had the privilege of serving as team doctor for our athletics squad — a humbling and fulfilling honour.
Switching roles
At home, I am an orthopaedic surgeon, often in the theatre repairing bones and reconstructing joints. In Tokyo, I traded scrubs for sneakers and spent long days on the track and in the athletes’ hotel. Our responsibility was to prevent injuries where possible, treat problems quickly, and reassure athletes when anxiety or fatigue set in.
Elite athletes walk a tightrope. The smallest cramp, muscle tightness, or illness can determine whether they make a final or fall short. Anticipation and swift response are everything.
The Tokyo challenge
Conditions in Tokyo were tough—hot, humid, and draining even for the best-prepared athletes. Marathon and long-distance runners were especially vulnerable, with dehydration, muscle fatigue, and heat stress looming over every stride. Managing hydration, recovery, and nutrition became as crucial as treating injuries.
Cooling strategies, ice baths, shaded recovery areas, and timely rest were planned to give our athletes the best chance at peak performance. But challenges were not only physical.
Representing Kenya carries immense expectations, and the pressure can weigh heavily on even the most experienced runner. Many times, our role was simply to listen—easing nerves before a race, offering reassurance when anxiety set in. Mental health is as critical as physical readiness, and both must be nurtured equally.
Preparation before departure
The medical watch began long before boarding the plane. Many athletes were still competing in the Diamond League and other events, coming straight from highly competitive races that had taxed their bodies. Fatigue, minor injuries, and overuse concerns had to be addressed early. Our work included careful assessments, rehabilitation plans, and recovery guidance—ensuring athletes could taper down from intense competition into championship readiness.
By the time we touched down in Tokyo, we had already, in consultation with the coaches, built a detailed picture of each athlete’s condition. That preparation enabled us to anticipate who might require extra monitoring, who was more susceptible to heat-related stress, and who needed close follow-up on pre-existing concerns.
Lessons for Kenya
Tokyo reinforced for me that athlete care is a collective effort. I must commend World Athletics, specifically its Health and Safety Department, in collaboration with the Games Organising Committee, for providing excellent health services at both the competition venues and the team hotel. Their systems ensured athletes and medical staff had the resources needed to respond effectively and maintain the highest standards of care.
Equally, I am deeply grateful to the Organising Committee’s medical team and the excellent staff at Keio University Hospital, whose collaboration was seamless whenever challenges arose.
I also wish to extend heartfelt thanks to His Excellency Ambassador Moi Lemoshira, Kenya’s envoy to Japan, who came through whenever we needed support. His presence and assistance were invaluable in helping the team navigate logistical challenges far from home.
Closer to home, I cannot fail to appreciate the dedicated members of the Kenyan medical team who travelled with us to Tokyo: J. Ogeto, Jessica Shiraku, Japheth Kariakim, John Mayaka and Aniksah Trivedi.
They worked tirelessly to keep our athletes healthy and fit to compete, and their professionalism and dedication were invaluable throughout the championships. It was a privilege to serve alongside them. Credit also goes to Athletics Kenya for putting together such a team that worked with synergy and professionalism.
Kenya must embrace this model. Our athletes are world-class and deserve world-class support. Early injury screening, physiotherapy, nutrition guidance, and sports psychology are of great importance when it comes to elite sports. If we want to sustain success, we must invest not only in training camps but also in medical and rehabilitation facilities.
This includes heat management strategies as global temperatures rise, sports science programs tailored to endurance running, and structured recovery pathways for injured athletes.
Pride in Service
Being a team doctor is demanding—long hours, late-night check-ups, and constant vigilance. There are moments of stress, but also moments of deep pride. Standing at the warm-up track, watching a Kenyan athlete take the final deep breath before walking into the stadium, I was reminded why the long days and sleepless nights were worth it.
To serve my country at the World Championships was both humbling and fulfilling—an honour I will cherish forever.
Behind every medal is not just talent and hard work, but also the quiet dedication of a team determined to keep champions running strong. I hope that Kenya and all stakeholders will continue to invest in these systems, so our athletes remain the best in the world—healthy, resilient, and proud representatives of the nation.
Dr Victor Bargoria is an Orthopaedic Surgeon at The Kenyatta National Hospital, admitting specialist at The Nairobi Hospital and Athletics Kenya Team Doctor
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