Ex-Kenya skipper lands prestigious IOC role

Former Kenya Sevens captain Humphrey Kayange has been elected Second Vice-Chair of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Athletes’ Commission.

The 43-year-old, who led Kenya at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2021, has been a member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission since Tokyo 2020.

He has previously been appointed to the Coordination Commission for the Dakar 2026 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in 2022 and was named its Chair in 2025.

Former Spain basketball player Pau Gasol Saez has been elected IOC Athletes’ Commission Chair, while former Summer and Winter Olympian Oluseyi Smith has received the newly created Third Vice-Chair position. Maja Wloszczowska has retained her position as First Vice-Chair.

This new leadership group will guide the IOC Athletes’ Commission through to LA28.

Kayange is a true Kenya great. He spent 13 years playing for the Shujaa and even won 18 Test rugby caps before the end of his playing career in 2017.

In 2009 he was nominated for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year alongside his younger brother Collins Injera.

A year later they both received the presidential Order of Golden Warriors. In 2012 Kayange even spent time at the University of Bristol to undertake research in tenellin biosynthesis and later gained a masters in organic chemistry from the institution.

He has also held roles with the World Anti-Doping Agency, the Kenya Academy of Sports Council and with the Kenya Rugby union.

On his appointment Gasol said: “This is a big moment to be able to take on the responsibility of leading our Commission. Since I was elected in Tokyo in 2021, it’s been an incredible learning journey that I am excited to continue.

“I think we have a unique opportunity until LA28 to make significant strides and build on the progress that we have made already.

“It’s about working together – the stronger we work together, the more we will accomplish. Thank you for the support, and I look forward to what we can do together.”