Uganda’s long-distance runners, Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, have withdrawn from the 5000-meter race at the Paris Olympics slated for tomorrow. Cheptegei won gold in the distance at the Tokyo Olympics, while Kiplimo settled for bronze.
“I wish to inform Ugandans that our heroes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have been officially withdrawn from the 5000m race due on Wednesday, 7th August 2024. This follows their failure to fully recover from the grueling 10,000m race in which both athletes competed on Friday, August 2,” said Uganda Athletics Federation Head Coach Faustino Kiwa in a statement.
Oscar Chelimo, who is the younger brother of Kiplimo, will thus compete in the 5000 meters as the lone representative of Uganda.
Chelimo won the bronze medal for the 5000 meters at the 2022 World Athletics Championships.
