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Two of Uganda's medal hopefuls have withdrawn from the Olympic 5000m, leaving Uganda's hopes on Oscar Chelimo's solo performance.
Just hours after Joshua Cheptegei withdrew from defending his Olympic 5,000m title his fellow countryman Jacob Kiplimo has also decided to step back from the race marking a significant setback for Uganda at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
This decision leaves Uganda with reduced chances in a race that had high hopes pinned on it following impressive performances in previous global competitions.
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Both athletes participated in the intense 10,000m race last Friday, which has evidently taken its toll.
According to Faustino Kiwa, the head coach of the Uganda Athletics Team, the rigorous competition left both runners unable to recuperate in time for the upcoming events.
“I wish to inform Ugandans that our heroes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have been officially withdrawn from the 5,000m race due on Wednesday 7th August 2024," Kiwa stated.
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He further explained that the event left the athletes "fatigued with legs and arm muscle pains," and despite the physio team's best efforts, they could not restore the athletes to their peak condition in time.
The statement from Kiwa elaborated on the difficult decision, emphasizing that the well-being of the athletes was prioritized over competitive success.
"The Coaching staff, in consultation with the athletes, and taking into consideration the coaching principle 'athlete first, winning second,' decided to withdraw them from the 5,000m to give them ample time to fully recover," he mentioned.
This development is particularly disheartening for Ugandan fans and supporters, as many had anticipated witnessing Cheptegei, the defending champion from the Tokyo Olympics, and Kiplimo potentially securing top spots in the 5000m.
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Now, all eyes will turn to Oscar Chelimo, Kiplimo’s cousin and the sole remaining Ugandan in the event.
Chelimo, who has been solely preparing for the 5000m, avoided the additional fatigue from participating in the 10,000m and has not been as affected by Paris’s humid conditions.
Arriving at the games village just on Sunday, Chelimo is in a promising position to leverage his fresh preparation and focus solely on the upcoming race.
The 5000m race now features a strong Kenyan trio including Jacob Krop, Ronald Kwemoi, and Edwin Kurgat, who are seen as formidable contenders in this event.
This race is crucial for Kenya as they aim to capture their first Olympic gold in this event since the 1988 Seoul Games when John Ngugi triumphed.
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