Ugandan marathoner Victor Kiplangat became a headline at the on going Commonwealth Games after he bagged the first gold medal for Uganda in the men’s marathon despite running the wrong way.
Having had a stead speed run, Kiplangat took a wrong turn nearly a mile away from the finishing line, a blunder that almost cost him the gold medal.
The 22-year-old Ugandan athelete went the wrong way as he approached the end of the race in Birmingham. Fortunately for him, he had established a strong lead against his opponents and went on to finish the race one minute and 34 seconds earlier than his closest challenger.
While speaking after winning gold at the Commonwealth Games, Kiplangat admitted that he was confused in the final stretch of the race, but was glad to finish top.
“The people riding the motorcycles were confusing me. They told me to turn back but I still made it to the finish. I believe Uganda is proud of me today. We have been waiting for this,” he said.
Kiplangat posted a time of 2:10:55, a few moments short of the Games’ record of 2:09.12 that was inked by Ian Thompson of England in 1974. Meanwhile, Tanzania’s Alphonse Simbu finished second to claim the silver medal, with Kenya’s Michael Mugo Githae settling for bronze.
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