Cheptegei breaks another record at Paris Olympics
Uganda’s long distance runner, Joshua Cheptegei has continued to make headlines after winning Uganda’s first gold medal at the ongoing 2024 Olympics games in Paris in the 10,000m race for men.
Clocking a time of a time of 26:43.14 , the Ugandan runner beat Ethiopia’s Berth Aregawi who clocked 26.43.44 and USA’s Grant Fisher who clocked 26.43.46 in a thrilling contest.
The time of 26:43.14 was an Olympic record for the gold medal.
The three-time world champion who previously had an Olympic silver wanted gold in the 10,000 metres to be complete having been world champion at the distance in 2019, 2022 and 2023 but not in Olympics where he was beaten to gold in Tokyo by Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega.
“It’s the dream of young people to achieve what they want to achieve in life. I really want to thank God, because barely 16 years ago when I was watching the great Kenenisa Bekele win in Beijing (2008 Olympics), it was something that grew in my heart. I said, one day, one time, I want to be Olympic champion,” Cheptegei said.
“For me, maybe it’s time to go to the roads. I have really won everything that there is to be won. So I think this is my last Olympics and maybe this is my last track and field. I’m really very sure that the track is on the safe side with these guys.”
Cheptegei, who is also the captain of the Ugandan team at the 2024 Olympics games in Paris ensured he led by example.
