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Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo lead Uganda’s bid for glory in the 10,000m final at the Paris Olympics. Both athletes are focused on winning medals, with Cheptegei aiming to complete his track career on a high note.

Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei

In the build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics, Joshua Cheptegei said: ‘You can be as strong as you want to be in life if you have a strong mindset’.

This is one of the virtues that has seen him win multiple races and set several world records, and with which he goes in today’s 10000m final as he chases Olympic gold.

The Olympic 5,000m gold medalist and three-time world 10,000m champion, who holds the world records over the distance is gunning for a 10000m Olympic gold to wrap up what has been a remarkable career on the track and what will cement his legacy among the long-distance greats. He is thinking of transitioning to the marathon, but his career on the track will be incomplete without it, so Paris 2024 presents the best opportunity to claim it.

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“I’m excited for the Paris games and I look forward to an amazing Olympics I feel good and ready to chase my dream, the dream of becoming a world champion once again,” Cheptegei told Al Jazeera ahead of the games.

“What is important for me is to be in the right mood and still be hungry for more titles, and I think the most important thing for me is to win gold medals,” Cheptegei who became the first Ugandan to win two medals at the games in Tokyo, noted.

Of the 27 competitors entered in the final, Cheptegei has the best time, a personal best of 26:11.00, followed by Jacob Kiplimo (26.33.93), Canada’s Ahmed Mohamed (26:34.14) and Ethiopian Selemon Balega with 26:93.34.

Others in contention include USA’s Young Nico, Kejelcha Yomif, Aregawi Berihu, and Kenyans; Daniel Mateiko, Nicholas Kiprokoril, and Bernard Kibet as well as Fisher Grant from the US, among others.

On the other hand, Jacob Kiplimo is another determined and rising star who has also taken the world by storm and who is also looking for an energetic display at the games.

“Competing at the Olympics is a special thing for me and this is my third time at such games. It means a lot because when you win a medal from such games, it can push you somewhere,” Kiplimo said ahead of today’s action.

“It is all about hard work because you first have to qualify and this being an Olympic year we had to plan with my coach and my management and follow the program.

Kiplimo is not thinking about the $50000 (sh185m) that every gold medalist will bag in Paris but he is thinking of just winning a medal that will bring in the other extras.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympic 10000m bronze medalist and multiple medal winner and record holder will be eager to upgrade to an even better medal at this year’s games having won the 2024 Belgrade World Athletics Cross Country Championships early this year.

Kiplimo and Cheptegei won bronze and silver respectively at the last games in Tokyo and all eyes will be on them in the Stade de France tonight.

Meanwhile, Halima Nakaayi also opens her campaign for that elusive Olympic medal when she competes in the 800m heats today.

She has prepared for the game in the US and it waits to be seen whether she can produce another shocker like in 2019 when she claimed a world championship gold.

Nakaayi has had a good season and recently set a new national record (1:57.56) over the distance, a time that should see her through today’s heat as she prays for even better fortunes in the subsequent rounds.

Also in action for Uganda today are Joy Cheptoyek, Esther Chebet, and Belinda Chemutai who also start their campaign in the 5,000m heats.

“I’m so excited to be at my second Olympic Games, I’m confident I will ­­­perform to my best because of the training we have gone through and I trust in God because I know after qualifying that something is going to happen,” Chebet said.

“I have been praying and working hard after the 2020 Olympics and I thank God that I recovered from my injuries. I have been thinking about these games and working hard over the last six months but I thank God and my coach for the guidance,”

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“If I make the final, it will be a big achievement for me because no Ugandan woman has ever qualified for the final but I trust myself and if I make the final, anything can happen,” Chebet said.

She hopes to draw inspiration from her idol Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri whose character she hopes to emulate during the Olympics.

“When I watch her videos I get inspired to perform like her, I get stronger,” Chebet who is going for her second Olympics stated.

Hard training and discipline have been the benchmark for her since her debut in Tokyo.

Chemutai is also glad to be at the Olympics after a lot of hard work and determination to be in Paris.

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“I have been working hard since January and I expect my debut to at least produce finals finish in Paris,” Chemutai who sees herself as the next 5000m champion soon said.

Cheptoyek who is going to compete in both the 5000 and 10,000m races is also hoping for the best.

“I trained hard because I wanted to fulfill my dream of competing at the Olympics. I’m not promising anything but I’m going to perform to my best and see what happens,”

“My target is to also win an Olympic medal soon so I will keep working hard until I realise my dream,” Cheptoyek who is looking forward to emulating Peruth Chemutai stated.

Team Uganda is sponsored to the games by the government of Uganda through the NCS and UOC with additional support from Plascon and Sanlam Insurance.

Friday

10,000m final

Joshua Cheptegei

Jacob Kiplimo

Martin Magengo Kiprotich

800m heats

Halima Nakaayi

5,000m heats

Joy Cheptoyek

Esther Chebet

Belinda Chemutai