Tanzania’s envoy to World Athletics Championships admits defeat as Ugandan bags Gold in Men’s Marathon

Alphonse Simbu, the Tanzanian runner who represented the country at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Hungary has just admitted defeat.

As far as he is concerned, Simbu realized that he did not practice enough to tackle the 42 kilometers full marathon event held in Budapest.

Speaking from Hungary, after he dropped off from the tracks, Simbu said he felt overwhelmed upon reaching the 30 kilometers towards the 35 kilometers section of the race, feeling his chest bursting.

“It occurred to me that I did not cover enough mileage during my initial preparations for the world race, so the only option was to drop out of the race at the 40 kilometres’ point, having decided it will be impossible to complete the race, let alone win,” explained Simbu.

The athlete insisted that there was no need to start witch hunting, because he only had himself to blame and that it was now time to think of preparing for future events including next year’s 2024 Olympics.

Tanzania, as it seems, was represented by only one athlete, the runner, Alphonse Simbu, during the World Athletics Championships that were taking place at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27, 2023.

But East Africa managed to keep the region’s flag high through Victor Kiplangat the athlete from Uganda who managed to clinch the Gold Medal in the Men’s Marathon event at Budapest.

The Ugandan wind chaser maintained the lead and sprinted across the finish line with a time of 2:08:52.

As far as the race for the silver medal is concerned, the competition was reported to be tough.

Manu Teferi the runner from Israel however managed to run past Leul Gebresilase of Ethiopia during the final 400 meters’ lapse and secured the Silver medal by using 2:09:12.

But all was not lost for the Ethiopian racer Gebresilase who however wrapped up the podium finishes, taking bronze in 2:09:19.

On the other hand Uganda’s Victor Kiplangat victory in the men’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships marks a significant achievement for his country.

This is Uganda’s second gold medal. The first gold was secured by Stephen Kiprotich in 2013, when he outpaced his competitors in Moscow, Russia.