Uganda's Victor Kiplangat aims for Olympic gold in Paris, leading a strong marathon team against Eliud Kipchoge's historic pursuit
Victor Kiplangat is poised to spearhead a formidable Ugandan contingent at the upcoming Paris Olympics in August as they face the monumental task of challenging marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.
Kiplangat, a world and Commonwealth marathon champion, emerged as the top qualifier for Uganda's men's marathon team after a stellar performance at the Osaka Marathon in Japan earlier this year.
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Kiplangat's journey to Olympic qualification began on November 1, 2022, and culminated with a remarkable time of two hours, six minutes, and three seconds in Osaka.
This impressive feat placed him second in the race, securing his position at the forefront of the six-man Ugandan team destined for Paris.
Months after his success in Japan, Kiplangat continued to dominate on the global stage by winning the world title at the Budapest World Athletics Championships, a victory celebrated at Heroes’ Square.
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Joining Kiplangat are Stephen Kissa and Andrew Kwemoi, both of whom have proven their prowess by finishing under the Olympic entry standard of 2:08:10. Kissa, in particular, has shown promising form this year, securing second place with a time of 2:06:22 at the Osaka Marathon.
Meanwhile, Kwemoi earned a commendable third place at the Milan Marathon in Italy on April 7.
The trio's preparation for the Paris Games is critical, as they have just three months left to fine-tune their strategies and conditioning.
The stakes are particularly high for Kiplangat, who aims to complete a triumphant trifecta by adding an Olympic gold to his existing world and Commonwealth titles.
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However, the path to Olympic glory is fraught with challenges, notably in the form of Kenyan marathon titan Eliud Kipchoge.
At 39, Kipchoge is not just defending his Olympic title; he is chasing an unprecedented third consecutive gold, having previously triumphed in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
His legendary status was cemented in Rio when he dethroned Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, and he continued his dominance with a commanding performance in Sapporo during the pandemic-impacted Tokyo Games.
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The competition is further intensified by the participation of Uganda’s women's team, which, for the first time, has filled all three marathon slots.
Stella Chesang, transitioning from track to road, will lead the team alongside Mercyline Chelangat and Rebecca Cheptegei. Despite Doreen Chesang’s victory at the 2023 Madrid Marathon, she did not make the team, highlighting the depth and talent within Ugandan long-distance running.
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