16-year-old Jacob Kiplimo on Sunday made history in front hundreds of cheering home fans as he won Uganda’s first-ever gold medal at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships. The teenager clocked 22:40 in the men’s U20 8km event at the Kololo Independence Grounds. He now says the time is ripe to take on the world!
During the interview yesterday, when asked about his aspirations, he stated he is up to the task.
“I now only fear Mo Farah”, he confidently stated.
Kiplimo last year raced with 34-year-old Mo Farah in 5000metres at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. The UK based long distance runner won the gold and the teenager only managed to come eleventh in the race. He stated that the Olympics was a great platform for experience.
The teenager explained that his continuous hard work will continue to guide him. He revealed that he spent two months training for the IAAF triumph.
Kiplimo called upon government to also offer him a “handshake” like Kiprotich received upon his 2012 London Olympics triumph.
“I also want the president to at least buy me a car or build me a house,” he stated.
