Birmingham: Uganda jumped in joy as a 22-year-old crossed the line with a broad grin. Victor Kiplangat timed 2 hours 10 minutes and 55 seconds, more than a minute and a half clear of silver medalist Alphonce Felix Simbu. The former dropped to his knees on crossing the line, before he grabbed a Ugandan flag. He draped the flag over him and accepted cheers from the audience.
The race winner Victor Kiplangat did not even forget to add entertainment to his victory. After running more than 40 kilometres through the unwinding Birmingham Streets, Kiplangat veered off-course. Thankfully, he had already built up a pretty commanding lead enough to help him to gold.
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Uganda’s first Gold in Marathon
Victor’s victory marked Uganda’s first-ever gold in Marathon in Commonwealth Games. The best placement for Uganda previously was Solomon Mutai. Mutai clinched silver behind in 2018 at Gold Coast. Moreover, the victory marks the first gold for Uganda in the ongoing games.
Kenyan Michael Mugo Githae wiggled his finger with a big smile at the onlookers as he came in for bronze. He was two minutes behind the Ugandan. Githae was a late addition to the field, being a reserve for the Kenyan Team. However, he made most of his chance by his defense against early race leader Liam Adams. Interestingly, the marathon brought first medals to all three countries.
Uganda has been an important contingent in Commonwealth Games for a very long time. They have competed in sixteen games including Birmingham’22. The Ugandan contingent has won seventeen golds, sixteen silvers, and twenty-one bronzes. Victor Kiplangat won the 17th gold in Ugandan History at Commonwealth Games. George Oywello won their first gold in 1970 Perth in Heavyweight Boxing. However, their first medal came in 1954 Vancouver when Patrick Etolu clinched a silver in the High Jump.
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