Three-time World and Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei has advised pupils and students of the French School in Kampala to always have a positive mind to succeed in life.

Cheptegei was invited at the school to be part of the 8th French Olympic and Paralympic week celebration happening at the school from April 2-6.

Every year, Olympic and Paralympic Week (OPW) is a week to promote sport among young people and mobilise the educational community around the values of citizenship and sport that are part of the DNA of Olympism and the Paralympics.

After a warm-up session featuring him, the children, and the French Ambassador to Uganda Xavier Sticker Cheptegei interacted with the primary and secondary sections children through question and answer sessions in which he told the kids about his life and how he started as a professional as well as how he keeps going and the tricks he uses to beat his opponents among others.

He also participated in a mini relay around the compound before he thereafter planted a tree in the school compound alongside the Business Development and Corporate Affairs Director at Total Energies, Jean Gavalda.

Cheptegei, the French Ambassador to Uganda Xavier Sticker and the head of the school jogs with some of the children at the French School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

He advised them to always move out of their comfort zones to succeed in the different spheres of life.

“You can be as strong as you want to be in life if you have a strong mindset and you’ll go places. Believe in yourself, be courageous, and always have a positive mind,” Cheptegei advised.

“If you want to be an Olympic champion like me or want to be successful in life these are the things that you must not allow anyone to take away from you. So having a positive mindset is very key in ensuring your success,” Cheptegei advised.

Cheptegei, the French Ambassador to Uganda Xavier Sticker and the head of the school, teachers and the Business Development and Corporate Affairs Director at Total Energies, Jean Gavalda (in white) poses with some of the children at the French School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

Cheptegei later told the media that his visit was very important in terms of giving back to young boys and girls because this is the future of our nation and the future of the world.

“It is here where children are inspired to become what they want to become in society and the best thing to do is to give them time because before you know it, they will remember that one day I came to their school and was able to impress us and inspire us and this is what I was here to do,” he noted.

Sticker said he was happy to see Cheptegei at the French School and wished him well at the Paris Olympics.

“We wish him success at these games and it was so nice of him to spend this morning with the pupils of the French school. They have asked him a lot of questions and we hope that develops the Olympic spirit of inclusiveness, friendship, and excellence that is at the core of the values that we try to promote today,” Sticker said.

Cheptegei signs autographs for some of the children at the French School. Photo by Michael Nsubuga

“The Olympic week is ongoing at the French School and in the coming days, the pupils will have the opportunity to practice several sporting disciplines out of the 32 that will be present at the Olympics and the 22 that will be at the Paralympics.

“We shall conclude with the wrap-up of the program that was sponsored by the French Embassy on sports in the run-up to the Olympic Games and we will do that at the skating park in Kampala. We are close to the games and momentum is building up and we are looking forward to the games,” he stated.

For its 8th edition, Olympic and Paralympic Week is taking place from April 2–6 throughout France and in the network of French schools abroad.

Olympic and Paralympic Week 2024 provides an opportunity to celebrate the Paris 2024 Games and athletes from around the world, by putting more physical activity into the daily lives of pupils and students.