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Joshua Cheptegei, who ensured an exciting comeback for competitive athletics last month when he broke the 16-year-old world record of 5,000 meters in the Monaco Diamond League, has received a reward of 123 million shs from MTN Uganda.
Cheptegei set a new 5000 meter world record of 12: 35.36, breaking Kenenisa Bekele’s world record of 16 years of 12: 37.35.
He also received a telecommunications package of 12GB of data, 35 voice minutes and 36 SMS per month for twelve months.
Both awards, according to MTN Uganda, symbolize the new world record 12.35.36.
MTN Uganda CEO Wim Vanhelleputte presented the awards to Cheptegei at the Mbale Resort hotel on Thursday.
“In sport, recognizing and rewarding milestones is widely accepted as an essential motivation to enable athletes to reach their full potential. Therefore, as Joshua continues to take on other sporting challenges, Uganda must recognize and celebrate this remarkable achievement,” he said. Vanhelleputte said.
Cheptegei’s jaw-dropping display culminated in a warm welcome to athletics during a season nearly wiped out by the coronavirus pandemic, with fellow world champions Noah Lyles and Karsten Warholm also shining on the track.
In perfect condition, with little wind and temperatures of 27 degrees Celsius (81F), Cheptegei clocked 12 minutes and 35.36 seconds to break Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele’s previous record of 12: 37.35, set in 2004.
Racing in front of a reduced capacity of 5,000 spectators masked in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions, the music resounded as World Athletics debuted a “bespoke atmosphere creation system” to enhance the experience for athletes, spectators and the broadcast hearing in absentia. of a crowded crowd.
Warholm showed no signs of coronavirus-induced rust as he led from pistol to tape to time a record 47.10 seconds in the men’s 400m hurdles, the first time he has run the event since winning his second world title in Doha.
