This archive report was first published on 27 December 2019.
Overcoming Adversity ¶
Shalel Tennah, a Special Olympics athlete, was born with cerebral palsy on Christmas Day, 25 years ago. Despite being told by doctors that she would never walk or talk, Shalel has defied the odds to win two silver medals and a gold medal in swimming and cycling.
Shalel's mother, Angeline Siparo, has been her biggest supporter throughout her journey. 'As soon as she was born, there was a twitch on her right hand,' Siparo recalls. 'A scan showed that parts of the left side of her brain had died.'
Shalel's cerebral palsy affects her motor skills, causing stiffness and rigidity in her muscles. However, she has learned to adapt and overcome these challenges through her love of sports.
A Passion for Sports ¶
Shalel's passion for sports began at a young age. She was always active and loved burning up energy. When she was taken to school for the first time, she played all the games, including football, athletics, and hide-and-seek.
Despite her physical limitations, Shalel felt challenged to try harder and enjoyed battling it out with her peers. She moved between schools, attending Augustana Academy and Kestrel Manor in Nairobi, before spending most of her academic life at Kenya Centre for Community Learning (KCCL) off Thika Road.
It was at KCCL that Shalel was introduced to the Special Olympics. 'That was the first time I got to know of the games,' she recalls. Shalel's memory is scanty due to her dyslexia, but she remembers being called out to compete in swimming.
Competing at the Highest Level ¶
Shalel's first international competition was the 2012 Special Olympics in Puerto Rico, where she won two silver medals in the Breast stroke and Freestyle competitions. She also represented Kenya in the 2015 Special Olympics in Los Angeles, California, USA, where she emerged eighth in the cycling event.
However, it was her recent gold medal win in cycling at the Abu Dhabi Special Olympics that has left her feeling proud and inspired. 'I am currently in love with cycling,' she says. 'I train every week with the help of a coach.'
Advice to Parents ¶
Shalel advises parents with children born with disabilities to be open to their participation in sports. 'Sports has taken me places I never dreamt of going,' she says. 'Through sports, I have met nice people and made good friends who have been a positive influence in my life.'
Shalel's mother, Angeline, has been her greatest force in encouraging her to pursue her dreams. 'My daughter has surmounted every milestone I was told she would never overcome,' she says.
Shalel's inspiring story serves as a reminder that with determination and hard work, anything is possible, even for those born with cerebral palsy.
