David GOMBE
Uganda’s long distance icon Joshua Cheptegei has announced that he will retire from track and field athletics after the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Cheptegei made the revelation immediately after clinching the 10000m Olympic title in a new games’ record of 26:43.14 at Stade de France on Friday in Paris.
“For me, it’s maybe time to go to the roads, sincerely I have won everything that’s there to be won. So I think this is my last Olympics and my last track and field. I really think the track is on the right side with these guys Grant (Fisher) and Berihu (Aregawi) here and many guys out there, I am sure they will have more exciting moments in the future again. But for me it’s really been a great ten years of huge impact for me.”
Said Cheptegei before adding
“Ten years when you transcend it into achievements, I think I am a complete runner. I have the world records, titles on the track. My mind is really bored now.”
Cheptegei also expressed his delight upon surging to the only missing piece in his glittering career
“I can’t describe the feeling. I’ve wanted this for a long time,” he said.
Cheptegei is a three time 10000m world champion, a world record holder over both the 10000m and 5000m.
He is also the only Ugandan to have won three Olympic medals in history with two golds and a silver.
In fact, Cheptegei has now won 12 medals across major championships since the 2014 World Athletics U-20 championships in Oregon, USA.
The legendary long distance will be aiming to sign out to his illustrious track and field career by defending his 5000m Olympic title.
