Murugi Ndungu
STRONGEST GRAD STUDENT IN GLASGOW - ONE NIGHT ONLY/ THE NIGHT I BECAME THE STRONGEST WOMAN IN GLASGOW
‘I was the 8th strongest woman in the country in 2019’ is my favourite answer to the dreaded question: ‘Tell us something interesting about yourself.’ If introductions were competitions and people’s reactions were the marking scheme, that one line would make me a winner each time!
As awe-inspiring as it is, this statement speaks to a deeper aspect of myself: my athletic career and the long winding road to discovering the ‘perfect’ sport for me.
That statement is not only awe-inspiring but also reveals a deeper aspect: my athletic career and the search for the perfect sport for me.
In the last five years as an undergraduate student in Kenya, I have trained and competed in more than seven sports, including boxing, wrestling, rugby, and the aforementioned sport of ‘strongman’. I’ve done all this to test my limits, build my athletic capacity, and find the perfect sport for me. I have succeeded in all but the final intention. I loved boxing but backed out due to the risk of head injury. Wrestling and rugby challenged me physically, an aspect I thrive. However, the wrestling training facility in Kenya was a whopping 200 km from my home, and rugby, being a team sport, felt out of my strength. I broke records in strongman, but a knee injury acquired in rugby made proper training and competing impossible. In essence, I was an athletic ‘hopeless romantic’ for the majority of my undergraduate year. Perpetually trying to learn and fall in love with new sports in the hope of finally finding the one, but also being unable to fully explore all the possible options due to challenges like finances (why are triathlons so expensive?), distance (wrestling), injury (thanks, rugby), and silly personal excuses.
The beautiful side of this hectic sports love story has been the lifelong friends and memories I have made. There is no doubt that Kenya is uniquely gifted in sports. Mention Kenya anywhere and the first thing most people think of is either its beautiful safaris or its world-renowned athletes. We break world records for breakfast and eat Olympic gold for dinner. But behind these incredible athletes are powerful systems of support, from government, to coaches, to subordinates, to ordinary mwanachi (citizens) who aggressively support their athletes. This Kenyan spirit is out-of-this-world, and I am proud to say that I have had the privilege of experiencing this support in every sport along my long-winded career. I wear my signature Kenyan bracelet with pride because of this ecosystem.
When the opportunity to study abroad came by, choosing Scotland was a calculated move, both academically and athletically. Scotland is known for its rich and eclectic athletic games, such as the Highland Games, the legendary dinghy stones, and is home to the strongest brothers in the world, the Stoltman Brothers. As a former strongman athlete and avid fan, the idea of watching or participating in any of these fills me with sheer delight. Much closer to home, here in Glasgow, it's the University’s Sports facility that tops the list! Three floors of pure unadulterated sporting bliss! I felt like a kid again, exploring the gym for the first two weeks of freshers' and it was free!
Here are some highlights from my first few weeks as a Kenyan Athlete at UofG Sport:
A few general things that amazed me:
- The sheer number of blow dryers in the women’s bathroom!
- How does a gym have so many power racks?
- Branded dumbbells, floors, and lifting pads!
- Two separate gyms, each 700sqm!
- How is the pool water always warm?
Kenyan has a lot of sporting facilities and equipment, but as an athlete from a wee little town, access was not always possible. At UofG Sport, it was my first time:
- Seeing and riding a skierg!
- Working out on an echo-bike!
- Using a stairmaster!
- Using a sauna and steam room!
Finally, the highlight of the last month was attending the ‘Scottish Women in Sport’ week initiative by UofG, Fempower Research, and GUSA, where I not only learned about menstrual health in sports, but also ended up winning the prize for the heaviest deadlift of the night! Safe to say that for that one night, I was the strongest female grad student in Glasgow!
That, my friends, sounds like a promising start to my athletic journey here in Glasgow as a Kenyan athlete. I don’t know what’s next. Maybe I will finally find a sport to stick to among the 50+ sports offered here. Maybe I’ll be the first Kenyan and African to attempt lifting the dingy stones. Or maybe I’ll carry on the cycle and try every sport possible, and break my own record. Either way, I’ll be sure to stick to the original intentions: to push my limits, build my athletic capacity, and to make some lifelong memories and friends while at it!
I’ll keep you posted. See you at the Stevie!