25 July 2021 | Olympics

As the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games continue in Japan, we take a closer look at athletics maestro Joshua Cheptegei’s profile, a Ugandan long distance runner.

Name: Joshua Cheptegei

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Place of birth: Kapchorwa

Birth Country: Uganda

Place of residence : Kapchorwa

Residence Country: Uganda

Background: Cheptegei was born in Kapsewui, Kapchorwa District, Uganda. His first love was football. He tried out the long jump and triple jump too in primary school but switched to running when he discovered his talent in distance running. Cheptegei studied languages and literature in Kampala for two years before getting employed by the Uganda Police. He is coached by Dutch tactician Addy Ruiter.

Highlights: Cheptegei currently holds both the 5,000 m and 10,000 m world records he set in 2020. In 2017, he became the silver medalist in the 10,000 metres event at the World Championship in London. In 2018, he set a world record for the 15 km road race and became the cross country world champion in 2019. In 2020, at a road race in Monaco, he set a new world road 5 km record of 12:51, breaking through the event's 13-minute barrier, taking 9 seconds from the previous best time of 13:00, set by Kenya's Sammy Kipketer in 2000. In August 2020, at the Monaco Diamond League meet, he set a new 5000 metres world record of 12:35.36, breaking Kenenisa Bekele's 16-year-old world record of 12:37.35 set in Hengelo. On 7 October 2020, in Valencia, he set a world record time of 26:11.00 in the 10000 meters, which again improved on Kenenisa Bekele's 15-year-old record by more than 6 seconds.

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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