Robert Napunyi Wangila: Kenya's boxing legend and Olympic gold medalist

The late Robert Wangila

Robert Napunyi Wangila holds a unique place in Kenya's sporting history as the first Kenyan to win a gold medal in a non-athletic Olympic event. His victory came during the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, where he triumphed in the men’s welterweight boxing final. This historic win made him not only the first Kenyan but also the first and only boxer from Sub-Saharan Africa to claim an Olympic gold medal in boxing.

Wangila’s victory at the 1988 Seoul Olympics remains Kenya’s only Olympic gold outside the track and field events, a testament to his extraordinary talent and determination.

The achievement brought him immense fame and inspired him to pursue boxing as a full-time profession. He subsequently moved to Las Vegas, where he transitioned to a professional boxing career, amassing an impressive record of over 22 wins and only five losses.

Born on September 3, 1967, in Jericho, Nairobi, Wangila came from a diverse ethnic background. His father was from the Samia sub-tribe of the Luhya, while his mother hailed from the Kisii community. Wangila later married a woman from the Luo community, further enriching his multicultural heritage.

Wangila began his boxing journey with the Kenya Breweries Boxing Club, where he quickly established himself as a dominant force. He achieved an outstanding amateur boxing record of 175 wins and only 5 losses, with 165 of those victories coming by knockout. He dominated the welterweight category in Kenya, facing little competition as he rose to the pinnacle of the sport.

Tragically, Wangila's life and career were cut short in 1994 when he died from injuries sustained during a professional bout against David Gonzales. The fight, held at the Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas, saw Wangila initially favoured to win, but the match took a devastating turn in the ninth round when the tide shifted in favour of Gonzales. The fight was stopped, and Wangila collapsed shortly afterwards due to the injuries he sustained.

A ringside doctor, Robert Voy, conducted a post-fight examination, but sadly, Wangila could not be saved.