)
Victor Kiplangat, one of Uganda’s only two gold medalists at the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Budapest, says it’s not been a walk in the park for him.
Athletes always gain instant fame with the celebrations and congratulatory messages after smashing world records or winning medals at major competitions.
But few care to know the amount not of sacrifice, dedication, hard work that is invested to attain the success that is celebrated.
)
10:57 - 28.08.2023
ATHLETICS 2023 World Champs: Where did Uganda finish on the World Athletics Championships medal table standings?
The 21-team Uganda contingent captained by Joshua Cheptegei managed two gold medals, with the captain defending his 10,000m title.
Victor Kiplangat, one of Uganda’s only two gold medalists at the just concluded World Athletics Championships in Budapest, says it’s not been a walk in the park for him.
“I started out in 2008, then spent about eight years struggling,” Kiplangat said on Wednesday before adding.
“With nothing coming my way, but since last year, I have been training well and thank God it has paid off with this gold medal.”
)
11:11 - 28.08.2023
ATHLETICS 2023 World Champs: How much Victor Kiplangat is bringing home after his marathon triumph in Budapest
Uganda's long-distance star Victor Kiplangat received Shs265m for winning the 2023 World Athletics Championships Marathon in Budapest on August 27.
“I have also been motivated by Moses Kipsiro, Steven Kiprotich and Joshua Cheptegei; they kept me going when the future looked bleak,” Kiplangat added.
Steven Kiprotich and Moses Kipsiro left a mark in the history of Ugandan athletics, with Kiprotoch claiming the 2012 marathon gold medal at the London Olmpics in 2:08.01.
A year later, Kiprotch won the 2013 world marathon title posting a time of 2:09.51.
Moses Kipsiro is a double Commonwealth champion, having won the 2010 10,000 (27:56.11) and 5000m (27:37.59) gold medals.
)
10:24 - 28.08.2023
ATHLETICS 2023 World Champs: 'A bright future for Uganda' - Cheptegei hails Kiplangat for World Marathon Gold
Newly crowned World Athletics marathon champion Victor Kiplangat has received high praise from Joshua Cheptegei following his stunning victory in the 42 km distance on August 27 in Budapest.
The 23-year-old long-distance runner will now shift his focus to preparing for the Olympics set to take place in Paris next year.
“My next plan is to focus on the Olympics next year in Paris; a lot has to be worked on, like ensuring the body is in the right shape and being injury and fatigue-free,” he added.
Kiplangat’s career started in 2008, but it took him another eight years to feature at a major competition, the 2016 World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, where he came 19th posting 14:21:22 in the 5000m.
A year later, he featured in the World Cross Country Championships on home soil but came 19th in the Junior men's race posting 24:19 but made amends the same year, winning the World Mountain Running Championships in Italy with a time of 52:31.
)
In 2022, the Kapchwora born won the Commonwealth Games marathon gold medal with a running time of 2:10:55.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)