Paris 2024: Although it's the end of the road for Alexandra Ndolo, she can't let go

Kenya's Alexandra Ndolo. [AFP]

In sports, there are some losses that really feel like victory. That is what was felt in the Kenyan showdown against Ukraine in Fencing at the ongoing Olympics.

Kenyan girl Alexandra Ndolo put up a dog fight in her debut that left everyone on the edge of their seats.

The women’s Women's épée encounter was a nail-biter, reflecting the skill and determination that the African champion brought to the arena.

The world silver medalist shone brilliantly, giving her all in the thrilling show that ended in a narrow last-minute loss.

Despite narrowly going down 13-12 to Olena Kryvytska of Ukraine in the Women's épée category, many will remember that thrilling showpiece, akin to a final, for a very long time.

Both fencers brought in their ‘A’ game in the contest as they displayed unmatched tact and skills, both players were good, only the lucky one survived.

Just the night before, Ndolo declared through her social media “I intend to make every second count.” She truly fenced with soul and heart, embodying the spirit of Team Kenya.

Despite losing the encounter to the Ukrainian, Kenyans have come out to heap praises on Ndolo saying she gave the country a gallant representation in the rare sport at the Olympics.

“These are the kind of performances that we want to see in our national teams, not the ones where you feel our athletes are in bed with match-fixers,” Leonard Onyango commented on the various social media platforms that honoured Ndolo.

“What a match. We fight another day, and for the first time, the Kenyan colors graced an Olympic fencing arena," wrote The National Olympic Committee of Kenya.

Kenyan fencer Alexandra Ndolo in Paris. [NOC-K Media]

Fencing fan, Hilda Bether, encouraged Ndolo to keep on going as next time it will be better, and perhaps a gold medal to boot.

Another fan, Brenda Mulinya, wrote; “These are the kind of headlines we love to see. Well done, Kenya.”

Some fencing enthusiasts, like Mich Mariga, were really disappointed with Ndolo’s last-minute narrow loss, feeling like it was their own, but admitted that Ndolo understood the assignment well in Paris.

At 37, Alexandra bowed out of the Olympics as the top-ranked African fencer, having won a World Fencing Championships silver medal for Germany in 2022.

Kenya had hoped to become the third African nation to win an Olympic fencing gold, following in the footsteps of Egypt and Tunisia.