Ndolo opens up on difficult fencing journey leading up to 'special week'

Kenyan fencer Alexandra Ndolo couldn’t have wished for a better week.

On Tuesday last week, she defied even her own expectations by winning the African Senior Women's Épée competition held in Egypt, and within the next 48 hours, had her application for change of nationality from Germany to Kenya approved by the International Olympics Committee.

And a career high FIE ranking to go with it.

“It felt amazing,” Ndolo told NTV’s Sport On! On Monday when asked of the moment she was finally crowned the African champion. “I was actually in tears when the national anthem played. It was a really happy moment for me because I always intended to paint Kenya as a great sporting nation.”

The journey leading up to the championships wasn’t as easy after all, her having to not only win under the pressure of being top 10 in the world, but fighting all adversity before then.

Ndolo on 22 May released a long social media statement that was addressed to the National Olympics Committee of Kenya, pointing out that she was enduring a tough time having to navigate through ‘empty words and promises from the Kenyan Fencing Federation and the Kenyan sports system.’

“It was about nine months where I used to fund myself in terms of travels, training and booking hotels,” Ndolo recalled the moment when she made the post. “It was a difficult moment, working out, not knowing where your pay for a meal in between games is going to come from, to being so upset in the hotel room. I was actually crying over that period.”

NOC-K however responded to the matter, clarifying that ‘financial support would not be processed as it comes under the Olympic Solidarity, for which her change of nationality needed to be completed first.’

Fast forward to Thursday evening, when NOC-K finally announced that her change of nationality was successful.

“It was a culmination of the love for sport and country,” Ndolo said on her reaction to receiving the news that she would now potentially compete for Kenya in the Olympic Games. “We were in constant negotiations with the Sports Ministry and NOC-K and once the news came in, everything sunk in - the want to fly Kenya’s flag as high as possible.”

On representing Kenya in the Olympics, Ndolo - a former German representative said; “It will mean everything. Almost half of my family is Kenyan and I have always had that as my childhood dream. It will for sure be an emotional time for me.”

Fencing queen Alexandra Ndolo finally cleared to represent Kenya after German switch

Olympic qualification is not guaranteed however, as Ndolo will have to remain as the top-ranked African before the qualification process closes in April next year.

“I still have to be Africa’s number one until April next year,” Ndolo - ranked 6th in the world with 144.00 points - said. “I will be taking part in the World Championships in Milan, Italy next month and then show up in six world cup events across Vancouver, Doha and other cities all leading up to the Paris Games.

“I have to make sure that I put up good performances for my ranking points.”

Ndolo - while representing Germany at the time - scooped silver in the World Championships in 2022 in Cairo, Egypt.

Asked about anything different she would want to see happen from a Kenyan athlete standpoint, Ndolo concluded by saying; “Any sort of financial support. Flights, hotels take up a huge chunk - approximately Ksh. 2-6 million. Now if you include the extras - coaches and physios cost - maybe adds up to Ksh. 6-9 million a year.

"I am also on the side looking at gaining partnerships that would help in a long way.”