Angella Okutoyi, Kenya’s rising tennis star, is determined to turn her heartbreaking miss for the Paris 2024 Olympics into fuel for her ultimate goal: competing at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The 20-year-old’s journey to Olympic qualification took an unexpected turn after she won the African Games, ending Kenya’s 40-year wait for the title, and believed she had secured her spot in the Paris Games. However, she later discovered that the rules required her to be ranked within the top 400 in the world to earn an Olympics spot, which she did not achieve in time.
Despite her disappointment, Okutoyi has embraced the setback and now focuses on the future. “Missing the Olympics really hit me a lot. After winning the African Games, I thought I had qualified, but with the rules, there was nothing I could do,” she explained. “If we had known the rule change earlier, I would have strived to play more tournaments. It’s hard for college players like me, who aren’t fully professional, to get into more tournaments in such a short period of time.”
Although it was a difficult period for her, Okutoyi was supported by those around her, especially at college. Now studying at Auburn University in Alabama, she feels ready to move past the disappointment and focus on her long-term goals. “It didn’t happen, and I move on. I now focus on the future,” she said.
Okutoyi remains determined to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. She’s optimistic that she has ample time to improve her ranking and achieve her dream of representing Kenya on the global stage. “I have all my eyes on the LA Games, and I know I can qualify and attain that dream,” Okutoyi shared with confidence. “I have more time now to play more tournaments and improve my ranking. I am hungrier, better, and more determined.”
After turning professional three years ago, Okutoyi chose to enroll in college on a tennis and education scholarship, as she did not have the funds to sustain a pro career at that stage. This decision allowed her to balance her education with her tennis career, enabling her to develop both on and off the court. “It has been pretty nice to be honest and I have enjoyed the ride,” she said. “College tennis in the US is different, especially because of the atmosphere. When you are serving or playing, there are people shouting and making noise, and you have to be mentally locked in all the time. I think that has really helped me.”
The experience of competing in a high-pressure college tennis environment has proven to be beneficial for Okutoyi. The training and competitive atmosphere at Auburn University, where she trains alongside talented teammates, has played a pivotal role in her growth as a player. “The training there is nice, my teammates are really fun to train with and very competitive. This has really been a great experience for me.”
Balancing her tennis career with her studies has not been easy, but Okutoyi has found a way to manage the demands of both. She’s looking to make the most of her time at university while continuing to develop her skills on the court.
In 2025, Okutoyi started her season strong with a second-place finish at the W35 Women’s World Tour Finals in Nairobi. This result serves as a reminder of her potential and sets the tone for her future endeavors. As she continues to build her game and rank, her sights are firmly set on the 2028 Olympics, where she is determined to achieve the success that narrowly eluded her in 2024.
