I am over the moon, UAF President Otuchet gashes about Cheptegei’s Olympic win
Cheptegei’s final lap, though slower than his training pace at 53 seconds, was still a testament to his body’s conditioning.
Joshua Cheptegei’s victory in the men’s 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympics has left the world in awe, but for Dominic Otuchet, President of the Uganda Athletes Federation (UAF), it was the mix of training and strategic execution that saw him break the Olympic record.
Otuchet in an audio interview with one of the Charmar Online News Reporters reflected on Cheptegei’s extraordinary performance, highlighting how the athlete’s training was key to his success.
“During training, after completing 24 laps, Cheptegei would often run a 25th lap in just 49 seconds. We knew that if he could keep pace with his competitors until the final lap, he was more than capable of finishing strong,” a very happy Otuchet disclosed.
Cheptegei’s final lap, though slower than his training pace at 53 seconds, was still a testament to his body’s conditioning.
Otuchet elaborated; “His ability to turbocharge forward despite the exhaustion is a result of intensive and precise training. Much like the divers you see from China and Japan, what seems like magic is actually the result of rigorous preparation.”
The Uganda Athletics Federation President also touched on the mental aspect of Cheptegei’s race. Despite some concerns of his start where he ran in the middle and his opponents underestimating him, Cheptegei stuck to his game plan.
Otuchet elucidated, “Joshua remained patient and did not deviate from his strategy, which was crucial for his success.”
Expressing his excitement, Otuchet further shared, “I’m over the moon! It’s a beautiful moment for us, but it’s not the end. We are hopeful for more gold medals in these games.”
Looking ahead, Otuchet revealed the federation’s aspirations for other athletes.
“We are optimistic about the 5,000 meters where Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo could bring home more medals. We also have Victor Kiplagat, the reigning world marathon champion, competing and Peruth Chemtai is set to defend her steeplechase title. Our marathon women, Stella Chesang and Rebecca Cheptegei, along with Tarsis Orogot in the 200 meters, are all strong contenders.”
