"I think this is my last Olympics" - Joshua Cheptegei announces move to road races after winning the 10,000m gold medal in Paris

By Agnijeeta Majumder

Modified Aug 03, 2024 05:34 GMT

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Joshua Cheptegei, the long-distance sprinter from Uganda, recently said he wants to pursue the roads, drawing curtains on his track and field career. He also revealed that it was his last Olympic appearance in the ongoing event in Paris, as he walked away with the 10,000m gold medal.

Soon after his gold-winning race, Cheptegei announced his retirement from the track, aiming to hit the roads. He added that he doesn't have anything to win anymore.

"For me, maybe it's time to go to the roads. I've really won everything thalthere is to be won, so l think this is my last Olympics and maybe this is my last track and field. I'm really very sure that the track is on the safe side with these guys, with Grant (Fisher) and Berihu (Aregawi) here and many guys out there," he said. (via X page of FloTrack)

Joshua Cheptegei set the world record in the 5000m at the 2020 Monaco Diamond League, which saw him clock a time of 12:35.36, lowering the 16-year-old record of Ethiopian runner Kenenisa Bekele. The same year, he ran the 10,000m distance in 26:11.00, again lowering Bekele's 15-year-old record by over 6s.

Cheptegei made his Olympic podium debut at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he earned the 5000m gold and 10,000m silver. His illustrious resume includes three 10,000m World titles, the latest one coming at the 2023 World Championships.

Having graced the Paris Olympics 10,000m event as the heavy gold favorite, Joshua Cheptegei outpaced a contentious line-up and won the stretch in 26:43.14, setting an Olympic record. 13 of the promising runners in the race ran under the Olympic record that stood strong since 2008.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi finished just 0.3s behind Cheptegei and settled for silver. Their US counterpart Grant Fisher trailed Aregawi by just 0.02s, winning the bronze.

Joshua Cheptegei expressed joy at his redemption after Tokyo Olympics upset

At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 27-year-old clinched the gold in the 5000m but didn't make it to the pole position in the 10,000m, After his recent victory, he was at a loss of words on seeing himself with the 10,000m gold.

"I can’t describe the feeling. I’ve wanted this for a long time," he said. (via NPR).

He also voiced a motivational two-liner for budding Ugandan athletes.

"The young boys are watching in Uganda. You can achieve it, believe in yourself because when you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t make it in life," he added.

Joshua Cheptegei drew inspiration from Kenenisa Bekele, who he saw take the title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.