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Despite facing skepticism and being labeled "crazy" for dreaming big, Orogot has persevered, defying the odds and now sets his sights on competing at the Olympics.
Young and ambitious, Ugandan sprinter Tarsis Orogot continues to defy the odds as he pursues his dream of competing at the Olympic Games.
Despite facing skepticism and being labeled "crazy" for dreaming big, Orogot has persevered, defying the odds and now sets his sights on competing at the Olympics.
Raised in Uganda with limited role models in African sprinting, Orogot encountered numerous doubters when he moved to Nairobi, Kenya, to pursue full-time training.
Coaches and officials questioned his ability to compete with top American and European athletes in sprint events, suggesting he focus on longer distances like the 800m or 1500m.
However, Orogot remained steadfast in his aspirations, adopting the mantra, "Just a boy with a dream," to fuel his pursuit of greatness.
"Many coaches and officials told me that I was crazy to think that I could compete with the Americans and Europeans in sprint events,” Orogot told Olympics.com.
“They advised me that, if I wanted to amount to anything, I would have to do the 800 or 1500m."
“That’s how the dream started,” he explained. “I wanted to be one of the best in the world in the sprint events.”
Orogot’s turning point came at the 2021 World Athletics U20 Championships in Nairobi, where he finished fourth and realized his times were comparable to those in the Olympic final at Tokyo 2020.
Reflecting on this realization, Orogot said, "Once I ran a 20.37 in the semi-finals, I wanted to just go back and start training more."
Inspired by the success of Jareem Richards, a world bronze medallist in the 200m from Trinidad & Tobago who competed for Alabama, Orogot made a decision that would shape his future.
After consulting with Crimson Tide coach Blaine Wiley, Orogot embarked on a journey from Uganda to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to compete in the U.S. collegiate system.
In his second season at the University of Alabama, Orogot has achieved remarkable results, shattered records and capturing attention worldwide.
His indoor performance of 20.20 set a new Ugandan record, while his wind-aided 19.60 became the third-fastest collegiate time ever, surpassing even world champion Noah Lyles on that particular day.
Undeterred by his success, Orogot has kept his schedule to a minimum this season, focusing on larger stages and greater challenges.
Currently, he is set to compete for Alabama at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in Austin, Texas, where he is considered one of the favourites in the highly competitive 200m event.
With his sights set on the World Championships in Budapest in August, Orogot aspires to make the 200m final, building on the valuable experience gained during his debut in 2022 when he reached the semi-finals.
This included the unforgettable opportunity to run in the same heat as his idol, Noah Lyles, which further fuelled his belief in his abilities.
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