Ugandan maestro Joshua Cheptegei out to give Daniel Mateiko & Co a headache at Paris Olympics

Ugandan maestro Joshua Cheptegei out to give Daniel Mateiko & Co a headache at Paris Olympics

Abigael Wafula 09:02 - 30.05.2024

Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei has set loft targets for the men's 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics, firing warning shots at the Kenyan contingent ahead of the global bonanza.

Three-time World champion Joshua Cheptegei has already set his target ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and the selected Kenyan team in the men’s 10,000m has be put on notice.

Cheptegei will be going for the coveted 10,000m title at the Olympics, the only title he is yet to win in his career since he already has the 5000m Olympic crown.

He has also won the 5000m and 10,000m at the World Championships and he is ready to add another accolade to his glittering track career before fully transitioning to the roads.

The former world cross country champion explained that he might be going for a double if all goes well at the event and he will be keen to win gold in both the 5000m and the 10,000m and with his track record, the Ugandan is capable of making history at the Olympics.

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“Moving to the marathon has been like trying to find new ventures but then I still find myself in love with the track. Tactically, I wasn’t at my best in LA and for me, what is very important is having some of these races to sharpen me heading to the Olympic Games where I want that gold medal," Cheptegei said during a pre-race press conference for the Diamond League Meeting in Oslo.

“I will be competing in the 5000m and 10,000m…the 10,000m is actually my favourite distance, I always love the 10,000m because that’s what made me but I don’t have an Olympic title.

“My dream is to win that title and see if I can win a double. If I’m strong, then I can win a double. My preparation is going well and I will certainly do a double.”

He has always been known to show up when it matters and Cheptegei never minces his words. His ambitions have sounded warning shots to the Kenyan contingent that includes Daniel Mateiko and Nicholas Kimeli, with the third runner to be announced in due course.

Team Kenya will be out to reclaim the title that was last worn by Naftali Temu during the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico. Temu was the first and only Kenyan to have won the 10,000 Olympics gold medal and all eyes will be on the Kenyan trio to deliver.