Uganda's Kiplimo excites fans as he bags gold
Jacob Kiplimo reaches for the finish line as he bagged the first gold medal for Uganda. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- A member of the Sebei ethnic group, Kiplimo who was born in November 2000 grew up in Bukwo on Mount Elgon, living at high altitude.
- At the age of fifteen, he won the 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships behind fellow East Africans Rodgers Kwemoi and Aron Kifle.
Ugandan long-distance runner Jacob Kiplimo on Sunday excited Ugandans as he took lead in the World Cross Country men's junior 8km race.
The 16 year-old won a gold medal in the third race raising hopes of Ugandans that had been thwarted following a poor performance in the first two races that saw Uganda trail in the fourth and eighth positions.
Uganda's long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo (centre) poses for a photo with president Yoweri Museveni (L) and the First Lady Janet Kataha Museveni who is also the ministry of Education and Sports. Photo by Joyce Chemitai
Who is Kiplimo
He represented Uganda at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
A member of the Sebei ethnic group, Kiplimo who was born in November 2000 grew up in Bukwo on Mount Elgon, living at high altitude.
An excited fan hugs Ugandan long distance runner Jacob Kiplimo after winning gold for team Uganda.
At the age of fifteen, he won the 10,000 metres bronze medal at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships behind fellow East Africans Rodgers Kwemoi and Aron Kifle. Of as much importance as that placing was his time of 13:24:40 minutes for the 5000 metres in Rome that May. That was enough to reach the Olympic standard and gain selection for Uganda at the 2016 Summer Olympics. As a result he became the youngest ever Olympian for Uganda.
Jacob Kiplimo won the Gold for Uganda in the junior Men's race
Prior to the 2016 Rio Olympics, he improved his 5000 m best further to 13:19.54 minutes. The youngest entrant to the competition he ran in the Olympic heats only, recording a time of 13:30.40 minutes for eleventh in his race.
