Joshua Cheptegei expected won the Male Athlete of the Year honour at the Uganda Athletics Federation Awards after a stellar 2019.
The long-distance runner beat three other nominees including Ronald Musagala, Jacob Kiplimo and marathoner Filex Chemonges to scoop the award for the third year running.
He was crowned by the new Sports Minister Hamson Obua on a glamorous night at Sheraton Hotel on Friday.
Cheptegei last year scored all his four targets; winning the World Cross-country title in Denmark, the 5000m title on the Diamond League, 10000m title at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar as well as the 10K world record (WR).
While he is left to add the Olympic title to affirm his status as the GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) athlete, Cheptegei thinks he is already the best runner to ever live for Uganda.
“People still think that (John) Akii-Bua is the greatest,” Cheptegei said, “I consider myself to be the greatest athlete in Ugandan history,” Cheptegei said in response to the conversation the legendary John Akii-Bua is still the country’s greatest athlete.
“I am only looking for that Olympic medal to become the greatest of all time,” the 23-year-old noted.
Akii-Bua won the 400m hurdles Olympic title at the 1972 Games in Munich, Germany in a world record time of 47.82 seconds, coming from lane 1.
At the Awards, Halimah Nakaayi who stunned the globe with the 800m title at the Doha Worlds was crowned as the Female Athlete of the Year. She beat other nominees including Shida Leni and Linet Chebet.
2019 UAF AWARDS
ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
M: Joshua Cheptegei
L: Halimah Nakaayi
JUNIOR ATHLETES OF THE YEAR
M: Oscar Chelimo
L: Sarah Chelangat
CHEPTEGEI AT A GLANCE
Date of birth: September 12, 1996
Major Races: 5000m, 10000m
Personal Bests: 5000m (12:57.41), 10000m (26:48.36)
Coach: Addy Ruiter
Manager: Jurrie van der Velden
Kit Sponsor: Nike
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This writer is a global broadcaster and as well scribe with Daily Monitor Newspaper and sports presenter with Radio One FM 90 in Kampala. Follow him on Twitter: @AllanDarren and his Facebook Page: Darren Allan Kyeyune