Uganda's title contenders Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have pulled out of the 5,000m race at the Paris Olympic Games.
KAMPALA, Aug. 6 (Xinhua) -- Uganda's top athletes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have pulled out of the 5,000m race at the Paris Olympic Games.
Cheptegei, fresh from winning gold in the 10,000m final and setting a new record, and his compatriot Kiplimo who finished eighth in last Friday's competition with his season-best performance, have opted out of the 5,000m race which starts with the heats on Wednesday at the Stade de France in Paris.
Head coach Faustino Kiwa said on Tuesday that the duo were unable to recover in time for the 5,000m race because of the fatigue they picked during the tough 10,000m final.
"I wish to inform Ugandans that our heroes Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo have officially withdrawn from the 5,000m race due on Wednesday 7th August 2024. This follows their failure to fully recover from the grueling 10,000m race in which both athletes competed on Friday," said Kiwa.
"The event left them with fatigued legs and arms muscle pains. Efforts by the physio teams to resuscitate the athletes to their full normal form has not been successful," he added.
"This now leaves Oscar Chelimo as the lone gallant soldier holding the Ugandan flag in the 5,000m race." ■
