25 July 2021 | Olympics

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games continue in Japan, we take a closer look at rising Jacob Kiplimo’s profile, a Ugandan long distance runner.

Name: Jacob Kiplimo

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Place of Birth: Bukwo 

Country of birth: Uganda

Place of residence : Kapchorwa

Residence Country: Uganda

Background: Kiplimo is a member of the Sebei ethnic group, he grew up in Bukwo on Mount Elgon, living at high altitude. He has three step-brothers Robert Chemonges, Oscar Chelimo and Victor Kiplagat who have all competed in long-distance running for Uganda. 

Highlights: At the age of 15, Kiplimo won the 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships. He first competed at the Olympics at the 2016 Summer edition - the youngest ever Olympian for Uganda. At age 16, he produced a performance of a lifetime to win gold in the men's U20 race at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, the country's first ever gold medal at a World Cross, covering the 8 km course in 22:40 minutes.At the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark, Kiplimo finished second in the senior men's race 4 seconds after Joshua Cheptegei's winning time of 31:40. Kiplimo did not run in the 10,000 metres at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, because of an injury.In 2020 Kiplimo won the 5000 m run in Ostrava on 8 September in a time of 12:48.63 and improved his personal best. On 17 September Kiplimo won a Diamond League 3000 m run in Rome in a time of 7:26.64, the fastest 3000 m since Kenenisa's 7:25.70 in August 2007. Kiplimo's time is the 8th fastest time ever and second placed Jakob Ingebrigtsen time of 7:27.05 became the 9th. He won the Half Marathon World Championship in a time of 58:49 on 17 October 2020. The event took place in Gdynia, Poland and was a Ugandan record and championship record. On 21 March, 2021 Kiplimo competed at the Campaccio-International Cross Country race in San Giorgio su Legnano, Italy. Despite falling during the ninth kilometer of the race Kiplimo won the 10km in 29:07. On 19 May, 2021 Kiplimo returned to the track racing 10000m at the 60th Ostrava Golden Spike in Ostrava, Czech Republic. Jacob pulled away from Bahrain's Birhanu Balew to win the race. Kiplimo finished in a personal best time of 26:33.93, which made him the 7th fastest 10000m performer of all time, and the second fastest Ugandan in history over the distance behind world record holder Joshua Cheptegei's 26:11.00.

Tokyo Olympics Participation;

Men's 10,000m Final

Date and Time: Fri 30 July (2:30pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Men's 5000m Round 1 - Heat 1-2

Date and Time: Tue 3 Aug. (2:00pm -2:20pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Men’s 5000m Final

Date and Time: Fri 6 Aug. (3:00pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

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