Joshua Cheptegei has won a gold medal in the Men’s 5000m at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics. He finished ahead of Mohammed Ahmed of Canada, who took the silver, and Paul Chelimo of the United States who scooped the bronze.
The 24-year-old 5000m World record holder clocked 12:58.15 to claim his second medal in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after the 10000m silver.
He was however not able to break Kenenisa Bekele’s existing Olympic record of 12:57.82.
Another Ugandan, Jacob Kiplimo was in front of the pack early, but Cheptegei took over the front spot midway through the race and didn’t let go of it until a six-man pack pushed ahead of the rest to set-up the final push. Cheptegei sealed the gold with a ferocious charge over the last section, with Ahmed nipping second.
Ahmed from took the silver with 12:58.61 and Chelimo grabbed the bronze.
This is Uganda’s second Gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics after middle-distance runner Peruth Chemutai won the country its first in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase race, posting a time of 9:01:45 which is a national record over that distance.
In total, Uganda now has four medals following a silver and bronze earlier won by Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo in the men’s 10000m race.