In a surprising turn of events at the Paris 2024 Olympics, Uganda’s elite middle-distance runners, Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo, have officially withdrawn from the men’s 5000m race. This decision was confirmed by the Uganda Athletics Federation, which cited insufficient recovery time following their participation in the grueling 10,000m event held earlier in the week.
Cheptegei, who recently clinched gold in the 10,000m with an Olympic record time of 26:43.14, expressed pride in his achievement but acknowledged the physical toll of the competition. He stated, “I’m so proud of having won Olympic gold in the 10,000m.. So proud for Uganda… After discussing with my team, we’ve decided it’s best not to compete in the 5000m. Thanks everyone for the support, and see you soon!”.
Reasons for Withdrawal
The head coach of the Ugandan athletics team, Faustino Kiwa, elaborated on the reasons behind the athletes’ withdrawal. He noted that both Cheptegei and Kiplimo experienced significant fatigue and muscle pain after the demanding 10,000m final. Despite efforts from the physiotherapy team to aid their recovery, they were unable to return to optimal condition in time for the 5000m semi-finals scheduled for August 7, 2024.
Kiwa stated, “This follows their failure to fully recover from the grueling 10,000m race… Efforts by the physio teams to resuscitate the athletes to their full normal form have not been successful”.
Consequently, Oscar Chelimo will be the sole representative for Uganda in the 5000m event, which is expected to be more unpredictable without the presence of Cheptegei and Kiplimo, both of whom are considered among the best middle-distance runners in history.
Impact on the Competition
Cheptegei’s withdrawal is particularly significant as he is the defending Olympic champion in the 5000m and holds the current world record for the distance. His absence means he will not have the opportunity to become the third man in history to win back-to-back Olympic golds in this event, a feat previously achieved by legends Lasse Viren and Mo Farah.
Kiplimo, who has also been a formidable competitor, finished eighth in the recent 10,000m race, marking a season-best performance. His growing rivalry with Cheptegei had set the stage for an exciting showdown in the 5000m, but now the dynamics of the race will shift significantly in their absence.
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