Ken Kahu

Started: He began Para athletics in 2018 in Port Vila, Vanuatu. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) Reason: He was scouted by coach Deni Kalanga in Port Vila, Vanuatu. "I was walking to the shop in Club Hippoque village and the coach of Para athletics also lived there, he saw me and shouted out, 'Hey boy, come'. So I went and had a chat, and he told me God sent me to him on that day so he could try me out for Para athletics as he recognised that I was young and fit, but that I had a physical impairment which was appropriate for Para. I started training throwing the medicine balls, building up fitness, doing running and using bands, then Deni gave me a javelin, even though I had never tried that before, and he identified I had potential in the 100m sprint and javelin. I came to realise the skills I have and began to love the sport with a passion." (thegoodnewsmovement.com, 06 Mar 2020; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (dailypost.vu, 13 Dec 2023) Awards: He and fellow athletics competitor Elie Enock were Vanuatu's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) He was Vanuatu's flag bearer for the opening ceremony of the 2019 Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa. (Vanuatu Paralympic Committee Facebook page, 11 Jul 2019; abc.net.au, 05 Jul 2019) Additional Info: OCCUPATION He has worked in Australia as an avocado picker through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility [PALM] scheme, and as a javelin coach in Tanna, Vanuatu. (dailypost.vu, 13 Dec 2023)