Last year’s World Championships in Oregon, USA, saw Uganda secure a commendable 16th place in the medal table, amassing a total of three medals – one gold and two bronze.
Fast forward to this year’s World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, Uganda has soared to an impressive 11th place in the overall medal tally among the 39 represented nations.
Notably, the Ugandan team secured the third spot among African nations. Team Uganda, comprising 20 athletes, claimed two remarkable gold medals. Joshua Cheptegei’s victory in the 10,000m race and Victor Kiplangant’s triumph in the men’s marathon were standout achievements.
These victories were not only sources of national pride but also earned both athletes a substantial reward of Shs265 million each.
On the continental front, Kenya emerged as the leading African nation, clinching the top spot on the medal table with a remarkable haul of 10 medals, including three gold, three silver, and four bronze. Ethiopia followed closely as the second-best African team, securing a total of nine medals, comprising two gold, four silver, and three bronze.
Dominating the overall medal table was the United States, clinching an impressive 29 medals – a collection of 12 gold, eight silver, and nine bronze.
As the championships drew to a close, Uganda’s performance stood as a testament to the nation’s growing prowess in the world of athletics.