If you want to succeed in life, you have to put your nose to the grindstone and work hard, meaning, you have to do more than what is expected of you. And without question or discussion, hard work is the key to success.

This is what currently describes the person of Seth Akampa, the new FISU World University Cross Country champion. He is surely and deservedly, the man of the moment.

Akampa, who returned from Muscat, Oman on Monday evening, where he did all it would take to keep Uganda’s image on the championship radar, was received at Entebbe International Airport by the administration representatives of BSU Mbarara, led by Finance officer CPA Isaac Muzaara who represented the Vice-Chancellor Gershom Atukunda.

But that was just at the airport and Akampa’s official welcome had to be at the Mbarara-based university premises on Tuesday evening, where the entire university administration gathered to receive the gold medalist.

On his triumphant arrival, Akampa was awarded with an envelope containing a sum of money the administration did not disclose.

“I am grateful for the recognition and the support BSU has given me. They have assisted me in the pursuit of academics, catered for my facilitation and travels to Oman, and now this recognition and warm welcome. When I was on the course, I was surely thinking of how best I could pay them back and I promise to keep the focus,” said a happy Akampa.

The soft-spoken runner won the precious gold after pacing unchallenged to the finishing tape in 0:29.12 minutes, beating closest challengers Miguel Baidal Marco from Spain and Baptiste Fourmont of France, who finished second and third in 0:29.23 and 0:29.25 minutes respectively.

Akampa, unlike other named elite athletes, is yet to showcase his abilities at a major stage, but a double silver in 5000m and 10000m at the 2022 East Africa University games at Ndejje, followed by the 2023 AUUS 10000m gold in UCU and now the FISU world university cross country championship gold, anyone can be convinced this is a runner destined for greater heights.