Know your IAAF Kampala stars: Jacob Kiplimo

Amongst his dreams is building a modern high altitude camp.

"I want to own such a facility before retirement. I want to help needy athletes achieve their dreams," says Jacob Kiplimo.

That sounds more like fantasy in a country where even the state has for almost a decade struggled to put up a high performance center. But trust this teenager's determination.

"I am confident I will attain that dream one day."

Kiplimo shot into the limelight in 2015 when he beat more seasoned athletes to the national mountain running title.

At 15 years the following year he was the youngest athlete at the Rio Olympics. He finished eleventh in his heat but still walked away with honors for standing his ground against much more seasoned athletes like Mo Farah.

"By the next Olympics in Tokyo, I will be in position to win gold," he promises as he prepares to take his favourite meal of posho, colewort (sukuma wiki) and cabbages.

He is currently part of Uganda's team that is currently preparing in Kapchorwa for the World Cross Country Championships.

You take Kiplimo very seriously when you look at his records. Before he went to the Olympic Games he won bronze at the World Junior Championships in Poland.

"I will start building my Olympic dream by qualifying for the next two world championships."

He sees the forthcoming world cross country in Kampala as a golden opportunity to shine again. He wants to scale the same heights reached by Moses Kipsiro, Boniface Kiprop and Thomas Ayeko.

Having won silver, the three are the most successful Ugandan runners at the now biennial competition. Kipsiro, who has a silver and bronze to his name, is the only Ugandan senior to have won individual medals.

Ayeko and Kiprop won medals as juniors. Ayeko won silver in 2011 while Kiprop got bronze in 2002 before improving to silver in 2003 and 2004.

KIPLIMO FACTFILE

Born November 14, 2000

Personal bests

1500m 3:50.24

3000m 7:52.94

5000m 13:19.54

10000m 27:26.68

10K run 28:49

Honours

Bronze- World Junior Championships 10000

Gold- National Cross Country Juniors

Gold- National Mountain Running Championship