Brian Kipkemei: Nakuru's skating champion who converted his passion into a profitable business
Brian Kipkemei, a skating instructor during an interview in Nakuru on January 31, 2024.
They say when life gives you lemons make lemonade; this is a principle that Brian Kipkemei, once a promising skater, has applied in his life.
Brian stumbled into the world of skating back in 2009 out of pure admiration for everything his older brother did.
"My brother used to love skating so much and soon, I asked him to teach me," he narrates.
Brian Kipkemei training one of his clients at Muggzy Gardens grounds on January 31, 2024.
After several classes with his brother, the then 15-year-old Brian, just like his brother fell in love with skating.
"I soon found myself indulging in skating on a daily which greatly improved my skating skills."
Upon completing high school, Brian's skills were enviable and many of his mates began asking him for skating classes, thus beginning his 10-year journey as a skating coach.
It wasn't long before Brian began dreaming of becoming a household name.
"I got into professional skating in 2021. Back then, I was only 21 years of age and the world was my oyster. I’d practice every day and even go to the gym to make sure I was in tip top shape."
With the hopes of representing Kenya internationally, Brian took part in over 20 competitions, winning almost every one of them.
"Over that period of time, I got awarded almost 20 medals and was even named the second best sprinter in the country sprinting distances of 100, 300 and 500 metres."
Brian Kipkemei displays some of the medals he has won in various skating championships.
As he narrates his pro-athlete journey, Brian lets Mtaa Wangu know that the pro athlete isn't an easy one.
"One of the biggest challenges was money. Acquiring the professional race skates and gear needed close to 30k. Daily workouts in the gym and maintaining the required diet was also a rigorous and expensive affair. "
The skater who also doubles up as a graphic designer also shares that another great hurdle in his journey, was the national team giving more priority to long distance skaters that did 10 kilometres to 42 kilometres over the sprinters.
Even so, Brian still had his dream in sight and kept trying to get into the national team.
"I finally met the qualifications of joining the national team and was at the peak of my abilities. But as fate would have it, the pandemic hit," the 28-year-old shares before adding, "Everything in the world was brought to an abrupt halt and I never got a chance to represent my country as I had dreamed of."
Instead of feeling defeated about the bad situation, Brian decided to focus all his efforts on coaching.
"Luckily for me, at the time the pandemic hit, I had already began getting clients to coach in skating and had even formed the Nakuru skate club where I am the head coach."
With the knowledge he had accrued over the years and the free time he had, he fully focused on growing the skate club and his business.
As of today, Brian owns a skate shop, a skating park and has 10 people working under him.
Some of the skating gear available for purchase at Muggzy playground in Nakuru city.
Additionally, he manages Muggzy playground which is a great hit during the school holidays providing activities for kids to do such as Tae Kwon Do, zumba, ballet, modelling and skating lessons.
"Even with the various things I do, I’m still a skating coach. My journey has been immensely fulfilling and I am grateful that I get to nurture the next generation of Nakuru's own skating talents, all while I expand my ventures," Brian Kipkemei concludes.