Olympic champion and world record holder Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda’s celebrated long-distance runner, has shared his inspiring journey to global success in the inaugural episode of I&M Bank Uganda’s “A Chat With The CEO” podcast.
Cheptegei, who is the face of I&M Bank Uganda’s “On Your Side” thematic campaign, spoke about his rise from a young athlete with limited resources to becoming an Olympic champion and world record holder.
Hosted by I&M Bank Uganda CEO Robin Bairstow, the conversation took place during the launch of the campaign at Kampala Serena Hotel. Cheptegei reflected on his athletics journey, the people who supported him, the work of the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation, and his partnership with I&M Bank based on shared values of trust, purpose and community impact.
Below are excerpts from the interview:
Robin: Joshua, many people see the medals, victories, records, and global recognition. But there is always a story behind success. Take us back to the beginning. What was your journey like from your early days to becoming a world champion and where you are today?
Cheptegei: Every journey has a beginning. When I reflect on my early life, it was in 2014 when I started out and qualified for the African Cross Country Championships. I was 17 years old at the time.
I wanted to become a world champion after seeing what Stephen Kiprotich achieved at the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 World Championships in Russia. That inspired me to dream of becoming a superstar.
Everyone dreams, but every dream goes through different stages. Along the way, there are challenges, and you have to find ways of overcoming them.
Robin: Every journey has difficult moments. Was there ever a time when things became challenging enough that you questioned yourself? What kept you going?
Cheptegei: When I was starting my athletics career, it was not easy. I had struggles with equipment, but luckily, my mother bought me shoes during the vacation.
Many people thought I would take a long time to succeed, but I managed to break through within a year. Many people saw the potential in me and supported me. I had my share of struggles before finding people who believed in me, and they helped me along the way.
Robin: What was the turning point that helped you move from being a talented young athlete to competing and winning at the highest level?
Cheptegei: It was in March 2014 during the Africa Cross Country Championships in Kololo. That was when I made my international debut.
Shortly after that event, I signed with Global Sports Communication, one of the leading sports management agencies in athletics, representing many international athletes, including legendary runners such as Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele and Eliud Kipchoge.
My first international outing was in Bangalore, India. It was my first time boarding a plane, and it was a difficult experience because I was unsure about many things.
In India, I competed in the TCS World 10km Road Race in May 2014 and finished second. That was the turning point in my career. It gave me motivation because I realised that if I continued working hard, I could achieve great things, including winning at events like the Olympics and changing my community.
Robin: How do you manage the pressure from public expectations, your team’s expectations, and the records you have set?
Cheptegei: When the country is counting on you, you look at people who are enjoying watching their sports heroes with the hope of seeing them win gold medals.
I remember during the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, after winning one gold medal, I was told by the Sports Minister that the country’s hope was on me to win another gold medal.
I won the race, but I suffered an injury, and it affected the rest of my 2018 season. Despite the pressure, you always have to ask yourself what you want. Family comes first, and when I am on the track, I know I have to make them proud.
Robin: One thing people admire about you is your consistency. Even after achieving so much, you remain humble, focused and disciplined. What keeps you grounded?
Cheptegei: I think it is my community. We have had challenges in the past where many talents could not be discovered. But because of government interventions, the story has changed, and everyone can now see the medals.
Robin: No one succeeds alone. Behind every achievement are people who provide encouragement, guidance and support. Who has been on your side throughout your journey?
Cheptegei: Number one is my family. The other is my training partners because athletics is not an individual sport.
There are also people who support us at training camps, including cooks, security personnel, physiotherapists, coaches and fans. These are all unsung heroes in sport, and they do not always receive enough recognition.
Robin: As athletes grow, they become more than competitors. They become brands, entrepreneurs, investors and leaders. How has your understanding of planning for the future evolved throughout your career?
Cheptegei: When you want to attempt something, you must understand what you are attempting.
My initial dream was to become a world champion, and I achieved huge success on the track. That is why I am now pursuing marathons.
The marathon calling has been there for a long time. Although I have loved the track, I believe it is now time for marathons. With the support of I&M Bank, I believe I will continue improving.
Robin: Beyond your achievements on the track, many people admire how you remain connected to your roots through the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation. Tell us more about the foundation, the work it does in Kapchorwa, and what inspired you to start it.
Cheptegei: The Foundation is one of the things I dreamt about when I wanted to quit athletics because of different challenges.
When I reflected on those challenges, I told myself that we must not rob our community of many undiscovered talents. I wanted to create more sports heroes.
I also wanted to contribute to the welfare of my people through health, education and environmental initiatives.
Through the Foundation, we have the Elgon Cup Marathon in Mbale City, where we plant thousands of trees in eastern Uganda with different institutions. We also organise football tournaments to identify talent in the region and support children through education programmes.
Robin: What advice would you give young Ugandans trying to build something meaningful, whether in sports, business or life?
Cheptegei: To young people out there, always dare to dream. That dream will guide you throughout your life.
I always encourage people to have a God-given vision and speak about it. I used to tell my friends at school that I wanted to become a world champion, and whenever I meet them, they remind me about it.
The world has opportunities in sports and business. Focus on your dream, and before you know it, the world will start cheering for you.
Robin: Joshua, you have built a personal brand associated with excellence, integrity and trust. You are also intentional about the partnerships you choose. What made partnering with I&M Bank feel right?
Cheptegei: The “On Your Side” theme was inspiring to us. We looked at the values we share, and I believed that a new journey was about to begin. I know things can get better and better.
Robin: On a lighter note, when you are not training or competing, what does Joshua Cheptegei enjoy doing?
Cheptegei: I always spend time with my family. I also spend time checking on my projects and reaching out to young people to see how I can impact them.
Our people need guidance, so I take time to mentor young people and support young athletes in different ways.
