Uganda’s long-distance stars are at the centre of attention heading into the London Marathon 2026, with Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei set to headline the country’s challenge in Sunday’s race.
The build-up gathered pace this week after Rosa Associati, the management group led by Federico Rosa, unveiled its official race kits, while Kiplimo signalled his intent on social media, posting: “london marathon one week to go. New suit, same goal.”
Kiplimo arrives in London among the leading contenders, buoyed by a strong upward trajectory in the marathon. In his debut over the distance last year, he finished second in 2:03:37, setting a Ugandan national record and crossing the line just one minute and 10 seconds behind Sebastian Sawe.
His form in 2026 has only strengthened expectations, highlighted by a world record run of 57:20 in the half marathon in Lisbon on 8 March, a performance he described as key preparation for the London race.
Sunday’s contest is expected to be highly competitive, with Kiplimo renewing his rivalry with defending champion Sawe.
The elite field also features Cheptegei, alongside established names such as Tamirat Tola and Yomif Kejelcha, setting up what promises to be a tightly fought race as Uganda looks to make a strong statement on one of the sport’s biggest stages.
