- Victor Kiplangat of Uganda burst into glory at the World Athletics Championships
- It was one of his most difficult race this year as Israeli marathoner Maru Teferi
- Teferi proved to be an indomitable athlete as he mounted fierce competition
Victor Kiplangat of Uganda burst into glory at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Sunday after winning the men’s marathon.
It was one of his most difficult races this year as Israeli marathoner Maru Teferi closely trailed him from the start to the finish.
Teferi proved to be an indomitable athlete as he mounted fierce competition despite falling during the race.
Kiplangat broke away and finished the race in record time of 2:08 53 finishing 19 seconds ahead of Teferi. He created the 19-second gap as soon as he hit the last 2.5-mile track.
The Ugandan is a 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medalist. As they reached the last 10 km lap, Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia and Kiplangat had a sizable advantage, suggesting that the race would end in a close finish.
Victor Kiplangat. Photo/Watch Athletics
However, Gebresilase faltered late and the 23-year-old Ugandan to overtook him. He recalls feeling more energetic after clocking the 30 km mark and this is when he set his mind that he would win his first gold medal in 2023.
He kept his faith and energy as Teferi and Gebresilase proved to be fierce competitors who didn’t give him time to breathe.
“When I reached 30 km I knew I felt strong and decided to push. I had great energy and that allowed me to go. Then at 35 km I could surge again. That was always my plan and I managed to do it. The pace was high but I had more to give. It was tough but I always felt I had the power. I know the Ethiopian was close but I was sure it was my day,” he stated after the race.
His sprint greatly challenged Teferi who was a distant third after falling. He mounted a strong comeback to overtake the Ethiopian and tried to get to Kiplangat but he was too fast for him to catch up.
“I wanted to get the best out of me and this competition was my biggest target. I am glad I managed to fulfil my dream. I fell down after 30 km and tore my t-shirt. Somebody touched me and I just fell but I tried to move on to finish the race in the best possible condition,” Reuters reports.
Ugandan Victor Kiplangat. Photo/AW/TWitter
Born on November 10, 1999, in Uganda, Kiplangat is a double world champion, having won the World Mountain Running Championships in 2017 and the recent World Athletics Championships in 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.
Kiplangat started his running career as a mountain runner and eventually won the World Mountain Running Championships in 2017 as a teenager.
He set the record as the youngest champion in the event’s history. He also won the silver medal at the 2018 World Mountain Running Championships.
In 2021, Kiplangat ran his first marathon and recorded the quickest marathon debut by an African runner. He finished second at the Valencia Marathon in 2:05:09.
After that, in 2022, he clinched a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games despite making a mistake near the finish line.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login