Joshua Cheptegei, the World and Olympic champion, recently clinched his long-awaited 10,000m Olympic gold in Paris, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 26 minutes, 43 seconds, and 14 microseconds. The 27-year-old Ugandan, who holds world records in both the 5,000m and 10,000m events, had been on a mission to complete his gold medal collection.
Cheptegei’s journey to this historic victory was marked by immense dedication and sacrifice. In April, he made the strategic decision to disengage from social media to focus entirely on his training. “I deactivated WhatsApp and got off social media,” Cheptegei revealed in an exclusive interview. Although his social media accounts remained active through a team, Cheptegei himself stayed away, ensuring he could fully concentrate on his preparations.
Understanding the level of commitment required to achieve his goal, Cheptegei overhauled his lifestyle, prioritizing rigorous training and a disciplined routine. “I focused on my training the whole of this year,” he explained. His coach, Addy Ruiter, provided a strict training schedule, which Cheptegei followed meticulously.
Training through challenging conditions in Kapchorwa, where June and July brought heavy and stormy rains, Cheptegei did not let the weather deter him. He trained even in the heaviest downpours, demonstrating his unwavering determination.
Cheptegei also adopted a rigorous sleep schedule, going to bed at 9 pm and waking up between 5:50 am and 6 am. On days requiring longer runs, he would rise at 5:30 am. This disciplined approach extended to his diet, which was heavy on carbohydrates to meet the energy demands of endurance running.
To simulate the warm conditions of Paris, Cheptegei and his team created an air-tight climate room at their training camp, akin to a sauna with heaters. “We would heat it to over 30 degrees, then would enter and do a treadmill run in it,” Cheptegei described.
Despite a challenging start to 2024, where he failed to secure a victory in four races and finished a distant ninth in Oslo, Cheptegei’s relentless focus paid off. His victory in Paris was not just a testament to his physical prowess but also to his mental resilience.
Reflecting on his achievement, Cheptegei said, “I’ve wanted this for a long time. When I took silver in Tokyo, I was disappointed. I just wanted to win the 10,000m.” His perseverance and strategic approach ultimately led him to fulfill his dream of winning the 10,000m Olympic gold, a milestone that defines his illustrious career.
