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Explore the remarkable journey of the exceptional Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei, from his world records and Olympic triumphs to his Nike partnership and family life.
Joshua Cheptegei Profile
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Joshua Cheptegei is a Ugandan long-distance runner who has achieved extraordinary success on the global stage.
His remarkable career is marked by world records, Olympic gold, and a dominance in long-distance running that has cemented his place among the all-time greats.
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Cheptegei's journey to athletic stardom began in his youth, having initially played football and dabbled in long jump before discovering his true calling in distance running.
His breakthrough came in 2014 when he won the 10,000m gold medal at the World Junior Championships, an early success signalled his immense potential, and he quickly rose through the ranks of long-distance running.
In 2017, he claimed the silver medal in the 10,000m at the World Championships in London, establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with on the global stage.
Two years later, Cheptegei won the 10,000m race at the World Championships in Doha and claimed victory at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark. He has since won two more world titles in 2022 and 2023.
The Ugandan’s dominance reached new heights in 2020 when he set a new 5000m world record in Monaco, clocking an astonishing 12:35.36 in August.
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Just two months later, in October 2020, he broke the 10,000m world record in Valencia, Spain, with a time of 26:11.00, achievements that solidified his status as a world-record holder and a true legend of long-distance running.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he won the gold medal in the 5000m and silver in the 10,000m, fulfilling a lifelong dream and etching his name into Olympic history.
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He further sealed his Olympic legacy by winning gold in the 10,000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics, setting a new Olympic record in the process.
Cheptegei’s additional impressive accomplishments include gold medals in the 5000 and 10000m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
How old is Joshua Cheptegei? (Joshua Cheptegei Age)
Joshua Cheptegei was born on September 12, 1996. He is 28 years old as of October 2024.
Where was Joshua Cheptegei born?
Joshua Cheptegei was born in Kapsewui, Kapchorwa District, Uganda.
Is Joshua Cheptegei Kenyan?
No, Joshua Cheptegei is not Kenyan. He is Ugandan.
Although he previously trained in Kenya alongside Kentan runner Eliud Kipchoge, he represents Uganda in international competitions and is firmly rooted in Ugandan heritage.
Joshua Cheptegei Height
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Joshua Cheptegei is 6 feet tall. In metres, the Ugandan stands at 1.83m.
Joshua Cheptegei Weight
Joshua Cheptegei is a relatively lean and lightweight runner, typical for long-distance athletes.
His weight is generally reported to be around 61 kg (134 lbs).
When did Joshua Cheptegei start running?
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Joshua Cheptegei started running around the age of 10 or 11.
The Ugandan has narrated how he and his brother set up poles around grass fields and raced friends and neighbours.
He started competitive running in primary school, motivated by the glory of representing his school. At age 16, while in high school in 2012, he first dreamed of becoming a professional runner.
How does Joshua Cheptegei train?
Joshua Cheptegei trains in Kapchorwa, Uganda.
Having previously trained in Kaptagat, Kenya, alongside Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Kamworor after his world U20 title in 2014, he persuaded his management in 2016 to establish a training group in his home, as he aspired to build a sustainable culture and inspire the younger generation.
Cheptegei now spends his weekdays at this training camp, a facility designed by his wife, a civil engineer. This allows him to return home to his family every weekend, balancing his dedication to his athletic career with his commitment to his family life.
Joshua Cheptegei Shoes
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Joshua Cheptegei is a prominent Nike athlete and is often seen wearing Nike running shoes.
Specifically, he is known to wear the Nike ZoomX Dragonfly spikes for track events. These shoes are designed for 5000m and 10,000m races and are known for being lightweight and having a propulsive feel. He wore these when he broke the 5,000m and 10,000m world records.
The Ugandan athlete likes to wear shoes from Nike's Vaporfly line for road races, as the footwear is known for its carbon fibre plate technology, providing energy return and improved running economy.
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Joshua Cheptegei vs Jakob Ingebrigtsen
According to the World Athletics website, Joshua Cheptegei and Jakob Ingebrigtsen have competed in two 5000m events — Golden Gala Pietro Mennea (2021) and the World Athletics Championships (2022) year — both won by Ingebrigtsen, with Cheptegei finishing sixth and ninth, respectively.
Although both are long-distance runners, Cheptegei typically competes in the 5000 and 10,000m events, while the Norwegian is versatile across distances, participating in 1500m to 10,000m. Ingebrigtsen won the gold medal in the 5000m event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the Ugandan winning the 10,000m, setting a new Olympic record.
Joshua Cheptegei Olympics
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Joshua Cheptegei has competed in three Olympic Games, making his debut in the Rio event in 2016, just before turning 20, in Tokyo and the Paris 2024 Games.
He won his first medals at Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021), notching gold in the 5000m and silver in the 10,000m race, becoming the first Ugandan to win two medals at a single Olympic Games.
Cheptegei’s 2024 participation was successful. He notably competed in and won the gold medal that eluded him in the 10,000m in Tokyo, setting a new Olympic record of 26:43.14.
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Joshua Cheptegei Medals
Olympics
2020 Tokyo
Gold (5000m), Silver (10,000m)
2024 Paris
Gold (10,000m)
World Championships
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2017 London
Silver (10,000m)
2019 Doha
Gold (10,000m)
2022 Eugene
Gold (10,000m)
2023 Budapest
Gold (10,000m)
Diamond League Final
August 2019
Winner - 5000m
Commonwealth Games
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2018 Gold Coast
Gold (5000m, 10,000m)
World Junior Championships
2014 Eugene
Gold (10,000m)
World Cross Country Championships
2019 Aarhus
Gold (Senior race(10km), Senior team [20 points])
2023 Bathurst
Bronze (Senior race [10km])
Joshua Cheptegei Records and Personal Bests
World Records
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5000m: 12:35.36
10,000m: 26:11.00
Olympic Records
10,000m: 26:43.14
Personal Bests
1500m: 3:37.36 (Kampala 2021)
3000m: 7:33.24 (Ostrava 2021)
2 miles: 8:07.54 NB (Stanford 2019)
5000m: 12:35.36 WR (Monaco 2020)
10,000m: 26:11.00 WR (Valencia 2020)
Road 5 km: 12:51 NR (Monaco 2020)
10 km: 26:38 NR (Valencia 2019)
15 km: 41:05 WB (Nijmegen 2018)
Half Marathon: 59:21 (Gdynia 2020)
Marathon: 2:08:59 (Valencia 2023)
WR: World Record
WB: World Best
NR: National Record
NB: National Best
Are Joshua Cheptegei and Rebecca Cheptegei related?
No, Joshua Cheptegei and Rebecca Cheptegei are not related.
Despite their shared surnames, there is no familial connection between the male athlete and late marathon runner whom her former partner murdered in September 2024.
Joshua Cheptegei Wife
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Joshua Cheptegei married his longtime partner, Carol Kamari, in a traditional ceremony in October 2021.
Carol is a civil engineer who designed the Olympic champion’s training camp in Kapchorwa, Uganda.
They have three children together: Jethan (born 2017), Jemima (born 2019), and Janaya (born 2022).
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Joshua Cheptegei Net Worth
Although precise figures could not be attained, Joshua Cheptegei's net worth is estimated to be between $5 million and $10 million.
The Ugandan athlete's estimated worth is an upshot of prize money accrued over the years, appearance fees, reported investments and endorsements, with the two-time Olympic gold medallist sponsored by Nike.
Joshua Cheptegei Social Media
Joshua Cheptegei is active on social media, frequently sharing updates on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). The two-time Olympic champion has 305,000 followers on Instagram and a following of 69,700 on X as of October 2024.
Cheptegei can be followed on the photo and video-sharing service @joshuacheptegei and @joshuacheptege1 on X.
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