CHEPTEGEI GETS GOLD

📌 RESULT
GOLD – CHEPTEGEI Joshua 12:58.15
SILVER –  AHMED Mohammed (CAN) 12:58.61
BRONZE – CHELIMO Paul (USA) 12:59.05

🔴 TODAY 🇺🇬
➡ 1,500m FINAL – Nanyondo- 3.50pm

🔴 SAT
➡ Marathon (W) FINAL – I. Chemutai , Chekwel J 1am
➡ 10,000m FINAL (W) Chelangat

🔴 SUN
➡ Marathon (M) FINAL – Musobo, Kiprotich & Chemonges – 1am

Tokyo, Japan | THE INDEPENDENT  | Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei has won the 5,000m gold at the Tokyo Olympics in 12:58.15.

The World 5000m and 10,000m world record holder now becomes only the fourth Ugandan to win Olympic Gold after John Akii-Bua (1972), Stephen Kiprotich (2012) and Peruth Chemutai (2020).

“I’m honoured to be a world record holder and Olympic champion as well. After my silver medal for 10,000m, I am very happy to take home this golden medal. Great Olympics for Uganda,” said Cheptegei after the final Friday night.

He came to Tokyo as favourite to become only the eighth man to successfully complete the 5,000m-10,000m double at an Olympic Games, but settled for a silver in the 25 lap race last week.

One half of his dream was snatched from him by a tactical race from Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega, who won the 10,000m race last week, with Cheptegei settling for silver.

In the past year alone, Cheptegei 24, broke the 5000m world record in Monaco (12:35.36),  then shattered the 10,000m record (26:11.00). He had earlier broken world records in the 5km and 10km road races.

After the 10,000m race, Cheptegei admitted that 2021 had been tough for him. “This year was really a very difficult year for me in terms of racing,” he said. “It’s the year that I have lost all the focus, all the belief. There was a lot of pressure and I was feeling it in every moment.”

Cheptegei said he has been battling a tendon injury that affected his preparations, but added that he was still happy to have scooped the silver medal.

UGANDA history at the Olympics

MEDALS BY GAMES

SOURCE: wikipedia