- Tshanda has qualified for the Winter Youth Olympics
- She becomes the first ever Kenyan to qualify
- The Youth Winter Olympics will be held in South Korea
Ashley Tashanda Ong’ong’a has made history for Kenya, with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) announcing that she has secured a quota place to represent Kenya at the Winter Youth Olympics Gangwon 2024, set to take place in Gangwon, South Korea from January 19th to February 1st, 2024.
The 16-year-old qualified based on her International Ski Federation (FIS) ranking of the women’s Youth Olympic Games quota allocation lists as of 18 December 2023.
Ashley Tshanda, will make history as the first African and Kenyan female cross-country skier to qualify for the Winter Youth Olympic Games. Born in Italy and holding dual Kenyan and Italian citizenship, Ashley chose to represent Kenya internationally.
She is guided by some of the best ski coaches in Italy, where she attends a sports school, Bachmann Sport College -Tarvisio, under coach Francesco Silverio. It is here that she has horned her skiing skills and achieved notable successes at various competitions.
NOC-K acting as the National Ski Federation, played a pivotal role in Ashley’s journey. Following a recommendation by NOC-K, Ashley, along with Issa Laborde, an Alpine Skier, this year underwent an intensive 14-day training camp in South Korea under the PyeongChang 2018 Legacy Foundation.
Ashley receives support from NOCK
Ashley Tshanda at the NOCK offices
NOC-K has also given financial and administrative support to participate in FIS races to get ranking points that earned her a qualification place.
Secretary General Francis Mutuku emphasized NOC-K’s unwavering commitment to supporting athletes abroad, “We find great inspiration in witnessing athletes residing abroad who are eager to proudly hoist the Kenyan flag. Their enthusiasm underscores our collective passion for representation, highlighting the significance our national colors hold for them.”
Ashley’s achievements include multiple victories in cross-country ski titles, regional and national championships, and notable participation in international ski competitions.
NOC-K continues to diversify its support for Kenyan athletes globally, ensuring that no deserving athlete is left behind in the Movement.
Meanwhile, The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) has joined a consortium of bodies led by Governments, the private sector, civil society, and other key stakeholders in the timely Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection of Refugees, currently underway at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva.
Operating in one of the countries hosting many displaced persons over the years in Kakuma and Kalobeyei Camps and Settlements in northern Kenya, NOC-K is passionate to lend its human and strategic advantages in sport to advance the interest, dreams and wellbeing of displaced persons in the country and beyond.
Youth Olympic Games
Ashley Tshanda with NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku
Currently, NOC-K is preparing several refugee athletes under the Olympic Refugee Athlete Scholarship programme, which seeks to prepare and empower them for participation at the Paris 2024 Olympics under the IOC flag. The athletes who are receiving specialized training have become a source of inspiration for their communities and other displaced people across the globe.
“In collaboration with our national federations, we will remain robust in promoting the capacity development of coaches and sports administrators targeting both refugees and host community people with training courses,” NOCK says.
NOC-K is exploring a further collaboration with Olympic Refuge Foundation in identifying and preparing youth athletes for Dakar Youth Olympics. Last week, NOC-K organised a refugee under 20 talent identification event at Kipkeino Stadium in Eldoret where about 25 youth athletes participated in athletics events from 400 meters to 5,000 meters.
NOC-K already is integrating other athletes at the training camps hosting our scholarship refugee athletes as part of creating an environment that eases their feelings and the effects of displacement.
“We remain confident that the coming year will see our Olympic Movement step up engagement, inclusion, and promotion of refugees using the platform of sports to a higher level to breathe life into our Joint Pledge on Sport for Inclusion and Protection of Refugees,” NOCK says.
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