Tofiri Kibuuka
Encyclopedia
Tofiri Kibuuka is a Norwegian
athlete. Uganda
n by birth, he competed for Uganda before obtaining Norwegian citizenship. He has participated in both the Winter Paralympic Games
, in cross-country skiing
(for Uganda) and in the Summer Paralympic Games
, in mid- and long distance running (for Norway). Active from 1976 to 2000, he won five Paralympic silver medals, and one bronze.
He holds the distinction of being the first African to have competed at the Winter Paralympics, and more generally the only athlete from a tropical nation to have done so. He is also one of only two Africans to have competed at the Winter Games, the other being Bruce Warner
of South Africa
(since 1998
).
.
In 1968, he was one of the first blind people to ascend successfully to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro
, earning media attention as well as praise from the Ugandan Minister of Labour. Due to this event, he was invited to Norway by an “organisation promoting sports for the disabled”. He arrived in Norway in 1972, a year after Idi Amin’s rise to power in Uganda. Due to the situation in his country of origin, he was to remain in Norway permanently, but nonetheless competed for Uganda in the 1970s.
at the inaugural Winter Paralympics in 1976
in Örnsköldsvik
, Sweden
. He was his country's sole representative, and, as Uganda was the only African country to compete, he was the first African to take part in the Winter Paralympic Games - eight years before Lamine Guèye
of Senegal
became the first African to compete at the Winter Olympics.
At the 1976 Games, he competed in two events.
He competed again in 1980
, where he was once more the only African competitor. He entered two events:
He did not compete again in the Winter Paralympics. Having obtained Norwegian citizenship, he began to compete for Norway at the Summer Paralympics.
At the 1984 Summer Paralympics
in Stoke Mandeville
and New York
, representing Norway, he entered three events:
In the 1988 Games, he entered only the 1,500 and 5,000m events, winning bronze in the former (in 4:15.94, behind Matthews for gold and fellow Norwegian Terje Loevaas for silver), and silver in the latter (in 16:22.14, once more behind Matthews).
In 1992, he was Norway’s flagbearer during the Games’ opening ceremony. He entered the same events as in 1988, but finished fifth in the 1,500m (4:25.48) and fourth in the 5,000m (16:24.02). While Matthews remained Paralympic champion, and Loevaas remained on the podium with bronze, Portugal’s Paulo de Almeida Coelho
finished second to edge Kibuuka off the podium. However, Kibuuka did also enter the marathon for the first time, finishing in 2:51:34 to take silver, behind Italy’s Carlo Durante.
From then on, he would compete only in long distance running. In 1996
, he entered the 10,000m (T10 category)
as well as the marathon (T10)
. He finished fourth in the former, in 36:10.58, and sixth in the latter, in 3:05:06. For his final appearance at the Paralympics, in 2000
, he entered only the marathon (T11)
, but injured himself during the race and failed to finish.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
athlete. Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n by birth, he competed for Uganda before obtaining Norwegian citizenship. He has participated in both the Winter Paralympic Games
Winter Paralympic Games
The Winter Paralympic Games is an international multi-sport event where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and cerebral palsy. The Winter Paralympic Games are held every four years directly following the Winter...
, in cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
(for Uganda) and in the Summer Paralympic Games
Summer Paralympic Games
The Summer Paralympic Games or the Games of the Paralympiad, are an international multi-sport event, where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years,...
, in mid- and long distance running (for Norway). Active from 1976 to 2000, he won five Paralympic silver medals, and one bronze.
He holds the distinction of being the first African to have competed at the Winter Paralympics, and more generally the only athlete from a tropical nation to have done so. He is also one of only two Africans to have competed at the Winter Games, the other being Bruce Warner
Bruce Warner
David Bruce Warner is a South African alpine skier. He is the only person ever to have represented South Africa at the Winter Paralympic Games, and he is one of only two Africans to have competed at the Games to date.Warner lost a leg in a car crash in 1988...
of South Africa
South Africa at the Paralympics
South Africa has competed at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games.The country made its Paralympic début at the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan, where it sent nine athletes to compete in archery, athletics, swimming and weightlifting. They finished sixth on the medal table with nineteen...
(since 1998
South Africa at the 1998 Winter Paralympics
South Africa made its Winter Paralympic Games début at the 1998 Winter Paralympics in Nagano, Japan. The country entered only one athlete, Bruce Warner, who competed in alpine skiing...
).
Prior to the Paralympics
Kibuuka studied at the Outward Bound School in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
In 1968, he was one of the first blind people to ascend successfully to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro
Kilimanjaro, with its three volcanic cones, Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira, is a dormant volcano in Kilimanjaro National Park, Tanzania and the highest mountain in Africa at above sea level .-Geology:...
, earning media attention as well as praise from the Ugandan Minister of Labour. Due to this event, he was invited to Norway by an “organisation promoting sports for the disabled”. He arrived in Norway in 1972, a year after Idi Amin’s rise to power in Uganda. Due to the situation in his country of origin, he was to remain in Norway permanently, but nonetheless competed for Uganda in the 1970s.
Winter Paralympics
Kibuuka made his Paralympic Games début representing UgandaUganda at the 1976 Winter Paralympics
Uganda competed at the inaugural Winter Paralympic Games in 1976 in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden. The country entered only one athlete, Tofiri Kibuuka, who competed in cross-country skiing...
at the inaugural Winter Paralympics in 1976
1976 Winter Paralympics
The 1976 Winter Paralympic Games were the first Winter Paralympics. They were held in Örnsköldsvik, Sweden from 21 to 28 February 1976. The disabilities included in this paralympics were blindness and amputees. Sixteen countries took part with 198 athletes...
in Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik
Örnsköldsvik is a locality and the seat of Örnsköldsvik Municipality in Västernorrland County, Sweden with 28,617 inhabitants in 2005.Its natural harbour and archipelago is in the Gulf of Bothnia and the northern boundaries of the High Coast area. It is well known as an exporter of paper products...
, Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. He was his country's sole representative, and, as Uganda was the only African country to compete, he was the first African to take part in the Winter Paralympic Games - eight years before Lamine Guèye
Lamine Guèye (skier)
Lamine Guèye is a Senegalese skier, and the current president of the Senegalese Ski Federation, which he founded in 1979.Guèye represented Senegal at the 1984, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics...
of Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
became the first African to compete at the Winter Olympics.
At the 1976 Games, he competed in two events.
- In the Men's short distance 10 km (category A), he finished 16th (out of 28), with a time of 58:24.
- In the Men's middle distance 15 km (category A), he finished 10th (out of 25), with a time of 1:16:32.
He competed again in 1980
1980 Winter Paralympics
The 1980 Winter Paralympic Games, the second Winter Paralympics, were held from 1 to 7 February 1980 in Geilo, Norway. Eighteen countries took part with 299 athletes. A demonstration event was held in sledge downhill racing. All classes of athletes with locomotor disabilities were able to...
, where he was once more the only African competitor. He entered two events:
- In the Men's middle distance 10 km (category 5B), he finished 12th (out of 31), with a time of 49:52.
- In the Men's long distance 20 km (category 5B), he finished 11th (out of 30), with a time of 1:42:17.
He did not compete again in the Winter Paralympics. Having obtained Norwegian citizenship, he began to compete for Norway at the Summer Paralympics.
Summer Paralympics
Despite having first moved to Norway due to his potential as a Winter Paralympian, and despite his solid performance for Uganda at the Winter Paralympics, it was as a runner that Kibuuka obtained all his Paralympic medals.At the 1984 Summer Paralympics
1984 Summer Paralympics
The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the seventh Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in two separate locations, Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom and in the Mitchel Athletic Complex and Hofstra University in Long Island, New York, United States of America The 1984 Summer Paralympics were the...
in Stoke Mandeville
Stoke Mandeville
Stoke Mandeville is a village and also a civil parish within Aylesbury Vale district to the south-east of Aylesbury in the county of Buckinghamshire, England. Although a separate civil parish, the village falls within the Aylesbury Urban Area...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, representing Norway, he entered three events:
- In the Men's 800 metres (category B1), he won his heat with a time of 2:07.83, and his semi-final in 2:12.13. Improving his time to 2:04.26, he finished second in the final, taking the silver medal behind Robert Matthews of Great BritainGreat Britain at the 1984 Summer ParalympicsGreat Britain was the co-host of the 1984 Summer Paralympics in Stoke Mandeville, United Kingdom and New York, United States. It was represented by 227 athletes competing in archery, athletics, boccia, cycling, equestrian, football, lawn bowls, powerlifting, shooting, snooker, swimming, table...
, who established a new world record in 2:02.33. - In the Men's 1500 metres (category B1), he finished first in his heat (4:28.42), and second in the final (4:20.16), taking a silver medal - again, behind a new world record by Matthews of Great Britain.
- In the Men's 5000 metres (category B1), he took silver with a time of 16:42.18, behind Matthews' world record 16:36.90, and ahead of his Norwegian compatriot Joerund Gaasemyr, who took bronze in 17:55.73.
In the 1988 Games, he entered only the 1,500 and 5,000m events, winning bronze in the former (in 4:15.94, behind Matthews for gold and fellow Norwegian Terje Loevaas for silver), and silver in the latter (in 16:22.14, once more behind Matthews).
In 1992, he was Norway’s flagbearer during the Games’ opening ceremony. He entered the same events as in 1988, but finished fifth in the 1,500m (4:25.48) and fourth in the 5,000m (16:24.02). While Matthews remained Paralympic champion, and Loevaas remained on the podium with bronze, Portugal’s Paulo de Almeida Coelho
Paulo de Almeida Coelho
Paulo de Almeida Coelho is a Paralympic athlete from Portugal competing mainly in category T11 long jump events.He competed in the 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain. There he won a gold medal in the men's 1500 metres T11 event, a silver medal in the men's 4 x 400 metre relay T11-T13...
finished second to edge Kibuuka off the podium. However, Kibuuka did also enter the marathon for the first time, finishing in 2:51:34 to take silver, behind Italy’s Carlo Durante.
From then on, he would compete only in long distance running. In 1996
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
, he entered the 10,000m (T10 category)
Athletics at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
Athletics at the 1996 Summer Paralympics consisted of 210 events, 155 for men and 55 for women.-Medal table:- Men's events :- Women's events :- References :...
as well as the marathon (T10)
Athletics at the 1996 Summer Paralympics - Men's marathon T10
The Men's marathon T10 was a marathon event in athletics at the 1996 Summer Paralympics, for totally blind athletes. Defending champion Carlo Durante of Italy took part, as did 1992 silver medallist Tofiri Kibuuka of Norway, and 1988 gold medallist Joerund Gaasemyr or Norway, holder of the...
. He finished fourth in the former, in 36:10.58, and sixth in the latter, in 3:05:06. For his final appearance at the Paralympics, in 2000
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, he entered only the marathon (T11)
Athletics at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Athletics at the 2000 Summer Paralympics comprised a total of 234 events, 165 for men and 69 for women. Athletes were classified according to the extent and type of their disability.* Classes 11-13: visually impaired athletes...
, but injured himself during the race and failed to finish.
See also
- Lamine Guèye (skier)Lamine Guèye (skier)Lamine Guèye is a Senegalese skier, and the current president of the Senegalese Ski Federation, which he founded in 1979.Guèye represented Senegal at the 1984, 1992 and 1994 Winter Olympics...
, first Black African to compete at the Winter Olympic Games, in 1984. (South Africa, under apatheid, had been represented by an all-white team in 1960.) - John Akii-BuaJohn Akii-BuaJohn Akii-Bua was a Ugandan hurdler and the first Olympic champion from his country.Akii-Bua started his athletic career as a hurdler on the short distance, but coached by British-born athletics coach Malcolm Arnold, he was introduced to the 400 m hurdles...
, famous Ugandan Olympic athlete during the time of Idi Amin