Kenya’s Rising Lionesses returned home to a colourful reception at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Thursday, November 5, following their historic gold medal triumph at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
The national junior women's rugby sevens team was welcomed by members of the rugby fraternity in a celebratory atmosphere marked by traditional Luhya Isukuti drums, singing and dancing as the players displayed their gold medals.
Director of Sports Douglas Ratemo joined the rugby fraternity in receiving the champions, according to Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, who celebrated their achievement and confirmed that the players would be rewarded under the Government's established athlete reward scheme.
The team made history on Tuesday, November 3, after defeating Australia 17–12 in a dramatic final to secure Kenya's first-ever Olympic gold medal in a team sport across both the Olympic Games and Youth Olympic Games.
The victory also made Kenya the first African nation to win rugby sevens gold at either Olympic competition.
Coached by Knight Otuoma, the Rising Lionesses showed resilience to overcome Australia, who had beaten them 17–5 during the pool stage of the tournament.
Kenya recovered from a 12–5 deficit in the final through a try by Josephine Kerubo, converted by Diana Wanjiku, to level the scores at 12–12 and force sudden-death extra time.
Mitchelle Chemtai then scored the decisive try to seal the 17–12 victory and hand Kenya its maiden Olympic team sport gold medal.
The team had earlier defeated Madagascar 15–5 in the semi-finals to book their place in the final against Australia.
Speaking after the triumph, Otuoma attributed the team's success to thorough preparations and tactical decisions made during the competition.
She explained that four changes made during the earlier pool-stage encounter against Australia were deliberate, with key players rested ahead of the knockout matches.
The coach said the achievement demonstrated the depth of talent in Kenyan rugby and expressed confidence in the future of the women's game.
First Lady Rachel Ruto also congratulated the Rising Lionesses, praising their teamwork, determination and fighting spirit, saying their performance had demonstrated the potential of young Kenyan women in sports.
Mvurya reaffirmed the Government's commitment to recognising sporting excellence through its athlete reward scheme, although the specific amounts to be awarded to the players were not disclosed in his announcement.
The Cabinet Secretary's recognition comes alongside the Government's broader commitment to developing women's rugby through stronger pathways connecting school and community competitions to clubs and national teams.
Kenya Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer Thomas Odundo has also credited the growth of women's rugby across Africa for creating opportunities for teams such as the Rising Lionesses to compete successfully on the international stage.
The team's homecoming comes as Kenya prepares to host the 2026 Rugby Africa Women's Sevens Championship at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi on November 7 and 8.
The senior Kenya Lionesses will be among 11 national teams competing in the continental tournament, which also provides an opportunity to qualify for the HSBC SVNS 3 competition.
The Rising Lionesses' achievement has marked a significant milestone for Kenyan sport, demonstrating the country's growing competitiveness beyond athletics and providing inspiration for young girls seeking opportunities in rugby.
