Joshua Cheptegei has won the gold medal in the Men’s 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 26:43.14.
This historic achievement makes him the first Ugandan to win two Olympic gold medals.
The race was a nail-biting spectacle, with Cheptegei securing his victory in the final moments, dethroning the reigning champion, Selemon Barega.
The final lap saw intense competition, but Cheptegei’s remarkable pace and strategic racing ensured his triumph.
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed silver with a time of 26:43.44, while Grant Fisher from the USA took bronze, narrowly edging out Mohammed Ahmed of Canada.
Cheptegei’s victory marks Uganda’s first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, bringing the nation’s total Olympic medal count to 12, including five golds.
This win propels Uganda to 30th place on the medals table out of 50 countries that have won medals so far.
Cheptegei, already a celebrated athlete, adds this gold to his impressive list of accolades. He previously won gold in the 5,000m and silver in the 10,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
He is also the world record holder in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events and has been crowned World Champion in 2019, 2022, and 2023.
The 10,000m victory sets the stage for another potential gold in the Men’s 5,000m next week, an event Cheptegei won in the 2021 Olympics.
The excitement around Cheptegei’s potential third Olympic gold is palpable, as fans and compatriots eagerly await another stellar performance.
