Joshua Cheptegei races to the finish line
Reigning World Record (WR) holder for both the 5,000m and 10,000m, Joshua Cheptegei has set a new Olympic Record in 10,000m race at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Cheptegei came good on his August 2021 promise of winning gold at the next Olympics in 2024. After bagging the 10,000m Olympics gold in Tokyo 2020, Cheptegei then gave away his medal to his friend Stephen Kiprotich saying he would replace it by winning another gold medal in Paris.
On Friday, he bagged Uganda’s first gold medal at the Paris Olympics after a well-calculated racing strategy. With 2 laps to go Cheptegei raced clear of Ethiopia’s Berth Aregawi who clocked 26.43.44 and USA’s Grant Fisher who clocked 26.43.46 in a thrilling contest.
In his victory speech, Cheptegei says the Olympics in Paris was probably his last race on the track and field and will now shift to the road marathons.
“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.”
Chepetegei holds both the 5,000m and 10,000m World Records. He’s a three-time 10,000m champion. He’s also the World Cross Country champion and now a three-time gold medalist.
Source: The Observer
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