Jacob Kiplimo has confirmed that the 2026 World Athletics Cross Country Championships in the United States marked his final appearance at the global event, signing off in emphatic fashion with a historic third straight senior men’s gold medal.
The Ugandan long-distance star defended his title to complete a rare hat trick of world cross-country crowns, once again underlining his dominance on the international stage.
Kiplimo controlled the senior men’s race from the front and had the decisive kick when it mattered most, ensuring he closed his World Cross Country career unbeaten at senior level.
His victory anchored a strong overall showing by Team Uganda, where Kiplimo served as captain. Uganda finished third on the overall medal table after collecting seven medals in total, including two gold, two silver and three bronze, one of the team’s best performances at the championships.
The race drew keen attention back home, with athletics officials and fans gathering at the Uganda Athletics Federation offices to watch live as Kiplimo delivered another landmark moment for the country.
After the championships, Kiplimo confirmed he will now step away from cross-country competition to focus on marathon racing, signaling a shift toward the next phase of his career.
Kiplimo exits the World Cross Country stage with a legacy that places him among Uganda’s greatest distance runners, leaving behind a standard of consistency and excellence that few in the sport have matched.
