Uganda registered its first medals at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games after Michael Kibet and Keren Chelimo delivered impressive performances to win bronze in athletics at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop Stadium on Monday, November 9.
The two distance runners secured Uganda’s first podium finishes at the Games, with Kibet finishing third in the men’s 2000m steeplechase before Chelimo followed suit in the women’s 3000m, giving Team Uganda a memorable double-bronze performance.
Kibet produced a strong race in the men’s 2000m steeplechase, staying with the leading group from the start as the contest developed into a battle between East African athletes. The Ugandan maintained his position among the front-runners to cross the finish line in a personal best of 5:39.50, securing bronze behind Ethiopia’s Junedin Abdo and Kenya’s Wesley Kiplagat Kipkech.
Abdo took gold in a personal best of 5:29.30, while Kipkech claimed silver in 5:36.28, also a personal best. Kibet finished more than six seconds ahead of Spain’s Pablo Vazquez, who clocked 5:46.05, to complete the podium.
Keren Chelimo then ensured Uganda’s medal celebrations continued in the women’s 3000m, producing a season’s best performance of 9:32.41 to secure another bronze.
In a race dominated by Kenya and Ethiopia, Chelimo finished behind Kenya’s Faith Rono, who claimed gold in 9:15.47, and Ethiopia’s Yordanos Tsigab, who took silver in 9:15.71. The two East African rivals were separated by just 0.24 seconds in a closely contested battle for the top positions.
Chelimo, meanwhile, held on to third place, finishing more than 15 seconds ahead of Argentina’s Zoe Gorski, who came fourth in 9:47.83. Her season’s best time capped an impressive performance and added a second medal to Uganda’s growing campaign.
Both races produced all-East African podiums, with Uganda joining Kenya and Ethiopia among the medal winners, further highlighting the region’s strength in distance running.
The double bronze marks a significant milestone for Team Uganda at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, providing a timely boost to the delegation as the competition continues in Senegal. Kibet and Chelimo have given Uganda its first taste of the podium at the Games, putting the country’s athletics team firmly in the spotlight.
