Kenyan triathlete Josette Kiarie is set to make her competitive return after a two-month injury layoff when she represents the country at the 2026 FISU World University Games in Nyon, Switzerland, on August 8-9.
Kiarie heads into the championships following an unusual build-up that combined rehabilitation, final-year medical examinations and a historic appearance at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, where she became the first Kenyan woman to compete in track cycling.
“The rehabilitation process was challenging, but it allowed me to recover properly and rebuild my confidence. I now feel physically strong, mentally ready and excited to compete again,” said Kiarie.
“Balancing my medical exams with training wasn’t easy, but it taught me discipline and resilience. I’m looking forward to representing Kenya and putting into practice everything I’ve worked on during my preparation.”
National triathlon coach Camila Lydia said Kiarie’s recovery has been carefully managed to ensure she reaches the Games in top condition. “Josette has had unique preparations leading into the championships. She completed her rehabilitation and is now in a very good place, both physically and mentally. Since then, our focus has been on managing her training load, recovery and performance to ensure she arrives healthy and ready to compete,” said Lydia.
The coach added that Kiarie’s Commonwealth Games track cycling experience has broadened her international exposure and strengthened her competitive mindset.
“This experience has strengthened her as an athlete and provided valuable exposure to international high-performance track cycling competition,” she said.
The Nyon event will be Kiarie’s second appearance at the FISU World University Games, with Team Kenya hoping the lessons from her debut will help her challenge the world’s top student-athletes.
Kenya, however, suffered a setback after Joseph Okal was ruled out with a broken ankle sustained in a motorcycle accident that required surgery.
“Joseph sustained a broken ankle that required surgery. He is recovering well, and while we are disappointed he cannot compete, we wish him a full and speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him back in competition soon,” Lydia said.
Despite the setback, the coach believes Kenyan triathlon is on an upward trajectory, citing both Kiarie’s participation in the FISU Games and Kenya’s hosting of the Africa Triathlon Development Cup.
“We expect that our athlete will execute her race plan with discipline, courage and confidence while proudly representing Kenya. At the same time, hosting the Africa Development Cup reflects our commitment to developing the next generation of triathletes and strengthening the sport in Kenya and across Africa,” she said.
The Africa Triathlon Development Cup has attracted about 50 athletes from across the continent, underlining Kenya’s growing role in nurturing triathlon talent and raising its profile on the international stage.
