Uganda’s celebrated long-distance runners Joshua Chetegei and Jacob Kiplimo won Silver and Bronze respectively at the 2021 Olympics on Friday afternoon.
Cheptegei who came into the Men’s 10000m as favourite posted a time of 27:43:63 but could not hold off eventual Gold medal winner Selemon Barega of Ethiopia who crossed the line at 27:43:22.
It was a brutal race in very high humid conditions that the athletes had to endure.
Kiplimo ensured a medals-double for Uganda as he finished third with a time of 27:43:88
The othee Ugandan in the race, Stephen Kissa, did not finish despite starting strongly and leading the field in the first 16 of the 25 laps.
With Uganda failing to win a medal until Friday afternoon, the Men’s 10000m was their biggest hope and luckily, it did not disappoint.
Cheptegei who is a World Champion, Commonwealth Gold winner and also a Junior champion will now hope to win Olympic Gold in the 5000m next week.
