MTN Uganda Chief Executive Officer Wim Vanhelleputte and MTN Uganda Chief Marketing Officer Somdev Sen have commended Uganda’s athletics contingent for excelling at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The duo reiterated their message at the rewards event organized to appreciate the entire team of 17 athletes, 5 coaches and 3 administrators at Kampala Serena Hotel on Friday.

Our Chief Marketing Officer, @SomdevSen2 has just congratulated our Olympians. Today, we have a reward for all of them. This is in appreciation of their outstanding performance that earned Uganda 4 medals at the games. #HomeOfUgSports #GoodTogether pic.twitter.com/0k14oXwyk3

— MTN Uganda (@mtnug) August 13, 2021

”The performance of our athletes is a demonstration of growth for Ug Athletics,” MTN Uganda CEO Vanhelleputte remarked.

“They achieved both as individuals & as a team comprising the coaches & support staff. MTN has also chosen to offer a token of appreciation for the entire team.

“We salute the big strides the sport is making, and we remain committed to facilitating the progress and success of Ugandan Athletics through our partnership with the federation.”

Uganda collected four medals at the games to register its best performance in Olympic history. Joshua Cheptegei claimed gold in the men’s 5,000m after sealing silver in the 10,000m alongside Jacob Kiplimo who garnered bronze in the latter.

Peruth Chemutai also claimed gold in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final to become the first female silverware winner from Uganda in Olympic history. Her medal meant Uganda had found all its fortune at the events from the athletics category.

“I don’t look at MTN as sponsors of athletics but as a brand that has walked the journey since 2004. We look forward to more investment in infrastructure to make Uganda stand out more,” Dr. Donald Rukare, Chairperson of National Council of Sports of Uganda said.

“To the Olympians, keep the Respect, Friendship, and Excellence,” he added.

MTN Uganda and Uganda Athletics Federation have had a long standing partnership with Uganda Athletics Federation since 2004 – sponsoring various grass root athletics programs, the most prominent being the Kampala Marathon.

MTN Uganda is a fervent supporter of Uganda sports and has over the years supported various disciplines including athletics, football, basketball, golf, and many others both at national and club levels.

The entire Uganda athletics team that traveled and participated at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics has been rewarded by telecom giants MTN Uganda.

Each athlete, coaches and administrators that made up the contingent have been awarded with a collective sum of UGX 175,500,000/=.

The money includes UGX 50,000,000/- each to Joshua Cheptegei and Peruth Chemutai for winning gold medals in the 5000m and 3000m Steeplechase races respectively.

During the event held at Sheraton Hotel in Kampala on Friday, it was revealed that “Cheptegei will get another UGX 25,000,000/= for the silver medal he bagged in the 10000m race while Jacob Kiplimo gets UGX 10,000,000/= for his bronze medal in the same race.”

The cash rewards are not only in appreciation of the individuals exploits but also a celebration of the coming of age of the sport that MTN Uganda has supported over the years.

UAF President lauded MTN Uganda for providing a firm foundation for athletics in Uganda; “We commend MTN for being a consistent sponsor for the Uganda Athletics Federation president since 2004. MTN has provided a firm foundation and this is giving us victories everywhere we go.”

Uganda collected a total of four medals (2 gold,1 silver and 1 bronze) at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics all from the athletics category. The performance at the games was the best ever recorded by the nation in Olympic history.

MTN Uganda has partnered with Uganda Athletics Federation since 2004 – sponsoring various grass root athletics programs, the most prominent being the Kampala Marathon.

Prize Money Split

Gold Medal – UGX 50M each – Joshua Cheptegei & Peruth Chemutai
Silver Medal – UGX 25M each – Joshua Cheptegei
Bronze Medal – UGX 10M each – Jacob Kiplimo

Other team athletes – UGX2M each
Coaches – UGX1.5M each
Uganda Olympics Commission Administrators – UGX1M each

World record holder and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei has launched the 100 days of the Joshua Cheptegei Training Centre fundraising drive to enable him finish the facility. 

The launch was also graced by chairman of the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation Allan Chekwech, Anthony Kuka Cherotich (chairman Rockman Safaris), Dr. John Mark Bwanika (Director Operations and Projects of Rocket Health) and Martin Chemonges.

Speaking at Kyoga Hall of Kampala Serena Hotel, the 24-year-old who won silver and gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics revealed his plans of raising 1.7 Billion Uganda shillings.

“Today, we launch a 100 days public fundraising drive to raise 1.7 billion shillings towards the completion of this project. The money will go towards the construction of a world-class hostel facility with fitness and other related equipment for athletes in the region and globally,” Cheptegei told media.

“The center is already fitted with a good Olympics size track that is in good condition to enable athletes succeed at a regional and global events. We also envision a first of its kind museum for Ugandan athletes that will continue to attract both tourists and teach the values and ethics of Ugandan athletes while authentically telling their story. 

He added; “We call upon everybody in Uganda and in the diaspora, corporate companies and all well wishers to join this drive to nurture the next generation of runners in our country.”

This project represents the only best possible chance to continue the legacy of gold winning Ugandans athletes and inspire communities of athletes all across the country to aim for the best.

To support the Joshua Cheptegei fundraising drive, use MTN Momo Pay (*165*3#) with a merchant code of 319325.

Alternatively, the dollar account 9030016913633 and shillings account 9030016912866 all registered with Stanbic Bank, Kapchorwa Branch in the names Cheptegei Joshua Kiprui.

“The Joshua Cheptegei Training centre will be a base of training for local and international athletes. The museum will further boost tourism with different artifacts preserved in there. Kindly support the fundraiser that will last for 100 days,” Anthony Kuka Cherotich (chairman Rockman Safaris).  

Once completed, the centre will have a track facility, hostels (boys and girls) with a mega world class hotel.

Uganda closed it’s participation in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics games with a tough men’s marathon that saw it’s representatives finish out of the top 40 runners from the streets of Sapporo on Sunday.

2012 London Olympics marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich couldn’t complete the energy sapping 42km – suffering a DNF after the 12km. He had been part of the leading group before he started feeling worn out.

His discomfort forced him to grab a couple of coolants on tables lined up on the roadsides but once he stopped, it got worse. He could also see the Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge and the other front runners draw further away before giving in.

Meanwhile, Compatriot Fred Musubo braved the sweltering conditions of 27C and 77% humidity to finish 44th in 2:18:29. The 2021 Source of the Nile Half Marathon winner had moved 36th by halfway of the marathon but lost places in the final half.

The 3rd Ugandan Felix Chemongesi posted 2:50:53 in 51st place after chasing down the relentless leading pack of nearly 30 athletes. Running 44th after 15km, he kept at their tail but their blistering pace drew lots of energy from him, before letting go of a couple of places.

Brazil’s Do Nascimento Daniel who fist bumped defending champion Kipchoge after 18.8km as both enjoyed the lead suffered a DNF. The 23-year-old initially seemed comfortable but after 25.8km, he fell off and even though he tried to rejoin, his charge drew the final energy from him.

By the 31st km, Kipchoge had drawn a distance of about 20m between him and his fellow Kenyans Cherono Lawrence – the 8th fastest marathon of all time and 2019 Doha bronze medalist Amos Kipruto.

Kipruto consequently dropped off just like South Africa’s Stephen Mukoka and 2019 World Champion Desisa Lelisa for DNFs as Cherono was left alone to chase Kipchoge whose gap kept growing towards the final quarter of the race.

Kipchoge – who holds the official world marathon record of 2:01:39 and has run a sub-two hour marathon – won gold in 2:08.38, becoming only the 3rd athlete to defend an Olympic marathon title, following the bare-footed Ethopian Abebe Bikila in 1960 and 1964 and the East German Waldemar Cierpinski in 1972 and 1976.

Behind him was Dutch athlete Abdi Nageeye who took silver in 2:09:58 – although he spent the last 30m looking behind him to encourage his training partner and friend Bashir Abdi of Belgium, who edged Chorono for bronze in 2:10:00 season best.

Despite the fact that Uganda didn’t collect a medal in this event, 4 medals overall, that is to say 10,000m silver and 5,000m gold from Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo’s 10,000m Bronze plus Peruth Chemutai’s 3000m Steeplechase gold – meant the country’s most successful Olympic Games in history.

Ugandan runner Mercyline Chelangat will have to deliver a mind-blowing performance to flip the odds in her favour when she lines up against top athletes in the Tokyo Olympics women’s 10,000m on Saturday.

Chelangat will be the last woman to compete for the Pearl of Africa at this edition after Peruth Chemutai’s golden moment, the first in the 3000m steeplechase for the country in history.

Tripple medal hunter and world number 1 Sifan Hassan of Netherlands presents the toughest challenge Mercyline will have to face as she seeks gold in the event.

Hassan – the double 2019 world champion and multiple world record-holder is seeking her 3rd Tokyo Olympics medal after winning gold in the 5000m and bronze in the 1500m.

Kenyan 2018 African Champion Helen Obiri is also a serious contender for a medal after featuring in the Tokyo Olympics 5000m where she won silver just behind Hassan.

Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, the world silver medallist who now has both the world 5000m and 10,000m records to her name is also bound to mount a huge challenge in pursuit of glory.

Japan’s Hiya Nitomi who set national records for the 10,000m (30:20.44) and half-marathon (1:06:38) in 2020 is the other notable mention in the race that Mercyline will need to contend with.

When to watch Mercyline run the Tokyo Olympics 10,000m race;

Women’s 10,000m Final

Date and Time: Sat 7 Aug. (1:45pm EAT)

Venue: Olympic Stadium

Ugandan runners Chemutai Immaculate and Juliet Chekwel made history at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women’s marathon after finishing 16th and 69th on Saturday morning.

Even though the duo were out of podium places, they set new milestones becoming the first pair to run in the same women’s marathon for Uganda in Olympic history.

Chemutai’s tough fight to reach the tape in 2 hours, 23 minutes and 23 seconds among the top 20 was the best position Uganda has ever attained in the women’s marathon at the Olympics.

It was the third time Uganda was having representatives in the event after Jane Suuto and Nyakasi Adero featured at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 editions respectively.

Chekwel’s performance registered as her season best following her sharp start with the leading pack before she dropped off to post 2:53:40.

The grueling marathon – under sweltering conditions of 28C – was won by Kenyan Peres Jepchirchir who ran a season best of 2:27:20 to claim gold.

World record holder Kosgei Brigid from Kenyan won silver also with a season best of 2:27:36, USA’s Seidel Molly taking up the final podium spot in 2:27:46 – a season best as well.

Kenyan world champion Ruth Chepngetich – who won gold in 2019 Doha – pulled up after losing touch with the leaders at 30km suffering a DNF.

Ugandan world record holder Joshua Cheptegei claimed gold in the men’s 5000m at the Tokyo Olympics. The 24-year-old ran 12:58:15 to seal his spot among the world’s greatest long distance runners.

We take a look at the milestones Cheptegei has made after clinching legendary status with the gold medal at the events;

• Cheptegei’s 5000m gold meant he’s the second Ugandan to win two medals at the Olympics games. He followed the footsteps of Leo Rwabogo – a flyweight boxer – who won bronze and silver at the 1968 and 1972 games respectively.
• Cheptegei’s gold helped him become the first Ugandan athlete to claim a medal double in the same Olympics games. This follows his first medal at the games that he won in the 2020 Tokyo men’s 10,000m. He finished 2nd to claim silver while fellow Jacob Kiplimo came 3rd to seal bronze.
• Cheptegei’s gold also put the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as the most successful games for Uganda since the 1968 Mexico and 1972 Munich editions. Cheptegei’s gold was the fourth medal Uganda has collected at the 2020 Tokyo edition – 2 more than what the country managed at the 1968 and 1972 games.
• The gold was Uganda’s fourth in Olympic history. The other three were won by John Akii Bua at the 1972 Munich Olympics, Stephen Kiprotich at the 2012 London Olympics and Peruth Chemutai at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• It is the category of Athletics that has brought Uganda her only gold (4) at the Olympics. Uganda has now won a total of 11 medals in Olympic history.

Joshua Cheptegei topped the Men’s 5000m final to win his first Olympic gold. He posted a time of 12:58.15.

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Joshua Cheptegei has finally claimed an Olympic title!

The 24-year-old topped the Men’s 5000m final to win his first Olympic gold. He posted a time of 12:58.15, a second shy of the Olympic record.

Ahmed Mohammed of Canada and Paul Chelimo of the USA outsprinted Jacob Kiplimo on the home stretch to finish second and third place respectively.

Cheptegei showed intent quickly surging ahead after the gun and led through one and a half laps but gave way for compatriot Kiplimo who led at the 1000m and 2000m marks. Cheptegei dropped to sixth with about two laps to go but quickly went in front of the pack through the final 500m.

Kiplimo eventually finished fifth in a time of 13:02.40 while his younger brother Oscar Chelimo was the last to cross the finish line in a time of 13:44.45.

Cheptegei’s medal brings Uganda’s tally at the games to four, with two gold – the other won by Peruth Chemutai in the 3000m steeplechase, one silver, and one bronze.

Ugandan athletes Joshua Cheptegei, Oscar Chelimo and Jacob Kiplimo will attempt to do a complete medal sweep when they compete in the Tokyo Olympics men’s 5000m final on Friday. 

Cheptegei and Kiplimo come into this race having claimed silver and bronze in the men’s 10,000m. Chelimo also qualified from heat 1 when he posted 13:39:07 in a photo-finish with American Kincaid William. 

Cheptegei owns the world record for this distance with 12:35.36 from 2019 while Kiplimo hasn’t been beaten on the track since the 2018 World U20 Championships.

Experience is what Cheptegei brings after featuring in the 5000m and 10,000m in Rio and claimed gold in both events at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

The Ugandan trio will have to stave off competition from heat 2 and 1 winners – Katir Mohammed of Spain and Kenyan Nicholas Kimeli as well as Canadian Ahmed Mohammed.

Ethiopian Mengesha Milkesa and Brit Butchart Andrew are also expected to mount a challenge for a podium finish after making the finals as well following a tight preliminary race with Kiplimo and Cheptegei.

Cheptegei and Kiplimo ran 13:40.61 and 13:30.40 respectively to qualify in 4th and 5th respectively in round 1. Should Cheptegei claim Gold, he shall cemented his place in the books of history as one of the finest long distance runners in the world.

When to watch Cheptegei, Kiplimo and Chelimo race again at the Tokyo Olympics men’s 5000m final;

Men’s 5000m Final

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

Venue: Olympic Stadium