Jacob Kiplimo keeps flying high

Jacob Kiplimo gained two gold medals for Uganda  at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham after winning the men’s 10,000m final on August 2 and the 5000m final a few days later on August 6.

The 21-year-old who took bronze at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA produced a spectacular finish that was accompanied by a celebratory dance at the finish line.

“I am very excited. Today I knew I would win because I saw the pace was a little bit slow,” he said in an interview with journalists.

“I think for me winning this Commonwealth Games title was everything, the most important thing for me this season.”

“But I still have a lot of things to do in the future at the Olympics and world championships,” he added.

Kiplimo beat Kenyan pair Daniel Ebenyo and Kibiwott Kandie, shattering the game’s record that was previously held by compatriot Joshua Cheptegei in a stunning time of 27:09:19.

The best yet to come

However, whereas he had won the gold medal in the men’s 10,000m finals, he was not yet done, as the best of him was yet to come.

The 21-year-old star would later seal a Commonwealth Games double by winning the 5,000m, having powered to the finish line with a stellar kick in of 13:08.08

Kiplimo ensured he emulated Joshua Cheptegei who achieved the same success at the 2018 games.

“It was a wonderful performance for me. I have two (gold medals) and I’m so happy about it,”Kiplimo said.

He joins an elite class of long-distance runners that have made Uganda the dominant nation at the event, winning every gold since 2006.

Boniface Kiprop started the trail in Delhi before Moses Kipsiro won back-to-back gold medals in 2010 and 2014.

Cheptegei then secured both the gold medal and the commonwealth record in Gold Coast 2018.

Kiplimo will attempt to become the third Ugandan runner to win both the 10,000m and 5000m gold medals at the Commonwealth Games.

Kipsiro and Cheptegei have won both gold medals at the games before, Kipsiro achieving that feat in 2010 before Cheptegei completed his own feat in 2018.