Down Memory Lane: Kiprotich’s golden run in London

August 12, 2012 was a day that will forever be etched in Uganda’s sporting history. On the streets of London, Stephen Kiprotich stunned the world, and a strong Kenyan team, to claim gold in the men’s Olympic marathon.

His victory handed Uganda only their second ever Olympic gold medal, 40 years after John Akii-Bua’s triumph in the 400m hurdles at the 1972 Munich Games.

Kiprotich crossed the line in 2 hours, 8 minutes, and 1 second. Two-time world champion Abel Kirui of Kenya settled for silver in 2:08:27, while compatriot Wilson Kipsang, the early race leader, took bronze in 2:09:37.

“I am very happy to win a medal for my country,” Kiprotich said with a smile after his stunning victory. “I love my people. Ugandans are very happy because we hadn’t won a medal in marathon races.”

The race had been billed as another Kenya–Ethiopia showdown. Brazil’s Franck De Almeida set an early pace, but Kipsang quickly reeled him in, surging ahead and building a sizeable lead by the halfway mark. For a moment, it seemed the Kenyans would sweep the medals.

But Kiprotich, then just 23 years old, bided his time. Training in Kenya’s Rift Valley with the legendary Eliud Kipchoge had sharpened both his patience and his kick. At the 32km mark, he made his move, unleashing a blistering surge that left the Kenyans flat-footed. Within moments, he was 200 meters clear.

Thousands of fans lining the streets of London roared as the Ugandan charged through the iconic landmarks. With the finish line in sight, Kiprotich draped a Ugandan flag over his shoulders, crossing triumphantly down the Mall, in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.

Uganda’s medal tally now stood at three: Akii-Bua’s 1972 gold, Davis Kamoga’s 1996 bronze in the 400m, and Kiprotich’s unforgettable marathon gold in 2012.

Kiprotich’s victory was not just a triumph of endurance, it was a moment of national pride, a reminder that Uganda could stand tall on the grandest stage of all.