Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei, has continued to conquer the world in the field of his career as a long distance runner, including his recent records breaking adventure at the ongoing 2024 Paris Olympics in France.
And his coach Addy Ruiter, has made sure that he continues to conquer at all fronts, and setting new records in the process as well.
He was all out on Friday August 2, 2024, to shock the world once again when he entered into the 10,000m race along with the current Olympics champion in the same category, Ethiopian Selemon Barega, reigning world champion and current world record holder, were all in the same race at Stade de France. With all having their eyes fixed on the coveted Olympics gold.
In the end, the coveted prize went to Joshua Cheptegei with a new record time of 26:43.14, followed by Ethiopian Berihu Aregwai winning the Silver medal with a time of 26:43.44, and the third prize (Bronze) going to the America athlete, Grant Fisher with a time of 26:43.46.
Joshua has now secured four major long distance running achievements in his bag, which include 10,000m Olympic Champion, 5,000m Olympic Champion, 10,000m World Record holder, and 10,000m Olympic Record holder. You think it’s a mean feat? If yes, then you gotta think again.
This is his second Olympics gold medal and three in all. While revealing that he had fought for this for a long time now, including feeling disappointed at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, Japan, when he ended up with Silver. Further, he has said this will be his last race in the track as he’s moving into Marathon next.
Further, the 28 year old Cheptegei is the former world best holder in the 5 Kilometers road run, and going on to become the only human ever, to have run such distance under 13 minutes, precisely in a time of 12:51, in 2020.
Meanwhile, the young man studied procurement and logistics management at the University of Kisoro in Uganda. Currently employed by the country’s police (Uganda National police).
