Jacob Kiplimo and the Ugandan athletics fraternity breathed a huge sigh of relief after the long-distance runner survived a nasty accident. Jacob Kiplimo was driving his double-cabin vehicle to his home district of Kapchorwa, Easter Uganda.
As he had reached Kween district which is also located in the Eastern region of Uganda, the vehicle skidded off a hilly slippery road. The young athlete was just a few kilometers from his destination along the Kamunerket-Mengya road.
He was helped out of the vehicle by onlookers who drove him to a nearby hospital in Kapchorwa town. Kiplimo suffered minor injuries and his car also got a small dent on the driver’s side.
“I am not sure how much body damage internally this could have caused to me, but I am grateful to God for shielding me. It could have been worse,” he said after surviving the accident.
Several accidents happen in this region and they have been largely blamed on the poor roads. “These athletes live dangerously in these areas given the dire state of roads, mostly during rainy seasons,” said resident Roger Barishaki.
This Jacob Kiplimo accident comes days after the long-distance runner participated in the world cross-country championship in Belgrade, Serbia. He defended his title as he won the gold medal beating Kenya and Ethiopia. Out of the five medals Uganda won at the championship, Kiplimo’s gold was the only individual medal.
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Many and the runner himself are hoping that this accident doesn’t affect the runner ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. These will start in the summer in July in the French Capital.
This is a huge relief for the athletics fraternity in East Africa after famous Kenyan long-distance runner Kelvin Kiptum lost his life in February. While in a car with his Rwandan coach, Gervais Hakizimana, they had an accident that unfortunately claimed their lives
