Uganda's golden team gets free medical check-up, flies back Wednesday

By Norman Katende

Uganda athletes who conquered the World Mountain Running championships were given a free medical check –up at San Rocco as one of the packages of the national team sponsors.

San Rocco is part of the Tuscany Training camp, which signed an agreement with the national athletics federation last year to have a medical check-up for all national team athletes and also treat them in case of injuries, if they can travel to Italy.

They are also planning to travel to Uganda next year to carry out another mass check-up for athletes that are national team material.

Nathan Ayeko undergoing a medical

The team that scooped four gold medals flies back Wednesday evening courtesy of their sponsors Brussels Airlines, who have already sent them congratulatory messages.

“We are proud of you and happy that our sponsorship has come back with results. This is just a beginning of our working relationship with you,” Suzan Othieno, the Sales executive of the airlines said in her message to the teams.

The athletes had an ultra sound test on bones and muscles; test of the performance of internal organs and acid and fats in the body, among others, which could have cost the federation over Euros 300 per athlete.

“They need this and because they are on the national team, it is free,” said Coach Giuseppe Giambrone after the first tests.

The tests are expected to go on for the whole Tuesday with recommendations to be given to the national federation.

“After what happened to Jackson Kiprop early this year, we believe that we should use this opportunity to see that athletes are at least in good health,” said Ayikoru during a briefing to athletes before they left Massa for Sienna.

“These machines you see all your intestines and muscles,” an excited Isaac Kiprop commented after one of the tests in San Rocco, where the medical centre is situated.