Last week you learned about the heroics of healthcare professionals fighting – and beating – Covid.
As cases continue to fall, we turn now to another type of excellence on display:
The 12 men and 13 women representing Uganda in Tokyo!
One of the first things we ever wrote when setting up the very first Uganda Marathon back in 2014 was this:
Running in Uganda is like playing football at Wembley, cricket at Lords, or Quidditch at Hogwarts.
And it’s true! If you’re going to go anywhere oversea to run, do it here.
East Africa – particularly a small region of land on the Uganda/Kenya border is the home of distance running. More medals have been won by people that grew up here, than anywhere else in the world.
We won gold in the 2012 Mens Marathon with Stephen Kiprotich. Both he and the 5,000m and 10,000m world champion and world record holder Joshua Cheptegei are fighting for glory at these games.
There’s a real chance that this could be Uganda’s best ever Olympics.
So, how are we doing so far?
Uganda’s olympic committee doesn’t have the budget or resources of some of the larger countries – but the big hearts of the competitors shine through.
The spirit of sport and the Olympics is great, and the determination shown by the delegation to qualify and get here – even through the budget cuts and lockdowns of the last year shines through.
So even though our boxers and swimmers made first round exits, it’s a tremendous achievement to even get to the games and fight it out with the world’s very best.
Kathleen Noble made it all the way to the final of the women’s single sculls rowing – and whilst not competing in this discipline at the Olympics – she also holds the Ugandan record for 50m butterfly swimming!
But as you’d expect, it’s on the Track where Uganda are really shining.
🥈 Silver and Bronze in the Men’s 10,000m 🥉
Joshua Cheptegei and Jason Kiplimo take silver and bronze in the men’s 10,000m!
Joshua is the world champion and world record holder. Despite being pipped at the finish line, they displayed great teamwork and worked together to overhaul the pack and cross the line virtually side by side.
Looking ahead: Joshua and Jason are still to compete in the 5,000m together. Medal hopes are again high!
We’re also waiting on Winnie Nanyondo and Mercy Chelangat in the 1,500 and 10,000m women’s finals, and Peruth Chemutai in the steeplechase finals.
And of course, the big event – the men’s and women’s marathons which traditionally are the final events of the games. Uganda has three runners, including 2012 gold medallist Kiprotich, in the men’s; and two runners in the women’s.
Come on team!
But what do people in Uganda think of the games?
Tom Tisay lives in Masaka, the town that hosts the Uganda Marathon. He’s helped build the Marathon from a dream to a reality, and now sits as one of the organisation’s Trustees.
Tom says,
“Masaka is an area that is characterised by lots of sports charm and excitement.
Olympic time is fun and stress relieving time. We all get so excited and if it were not for bars and other happening places being closed [currently due to Covid], it would be super loud!
There has been a lot of stress, not movement unless you’re an essential worker or you’re permitted to do, we’ve been living sedentary lives which has of late sparked an increase in mental illness cases.
But with the fun, joy, disappointments, new records set, competitiveness Olympics bring it helps us be proactive, release some adrenaline, have something to talk about other than COVID19 and it’s terms; lockdown, isolation, quarantine, vaccine jab mainly those.
We were happy this time round especially when we had a new entrant in a new game ROWING by Kathleen G – the only rower in Uganda!
We definitely support every Ugandan participant. Truth be told, besides running, elsewhere participated in is tougher and our high hopes are in the runners.
Thanks to the special effort of our athletes, there is not much facility to support them during their training and the government budget can’t support them go abroad for training and challenges. Never the less we’re always excited for at least there is a participant in every Olympics.
Another special thing about this event is that our flag is raised! We get publicity and this somehow brings in huge and positive publicity to my community!
Additionally, for most events where Ugandans participate, [due to the time difference from Japan] the event times are perfect!“
Come experience that finish line feeling for yourself
The Uganda Marathon – inspired by the 10,000m success of Uganda’s track stars, isn’t just a marathon.
In the spirit of inclusivity, the event is split into four different categories. Catering for every ability and appetite.
There’s the full marathon, half marathon, 10km, and disability/parasport races. All with winners in both the men’s and women’s categories. Plus a junior parasport event as well.
This means that no matter your fitness level, there’s the right event for you, at the culmination of 7 days of adventure on the Equator.
In the meantime, we’re glued to our screens for the rest of the week, along with Tom and everyone else in Uganda – cheering on the Athletes!
