Moscow, Russia Last night. AFP PHOTO.
Finding the right words to describe a man so great is such a task. Stephen Kiprotich has put us in a rather difficult position. So much has he done in a space of one year that to put one word to it is simply plain right IMPOSSIBLE. Its normally the case with great men; men of valor, men of such influence. One of such men is our very own Olympic and World Marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich.
On Saturday, we were treated to another masterclass as the runner beat two Ethiopians Lelisa Desisa and Tadese Lola to the podium to win himself a priceless Gold medal and a juicy $ 60000 at the Moscow World Athletics Championships. If you asked me my thoughts, I would just scream GREATNESS.
Skeptics had always been on the prowl disputing his showings in London over a year ago as a fluke. But such is the greatness of this man that he came back to prove them wrong. Fears had grown about how Kiprotich would deal with the hype, attention and his newly found fortune after that surprise Olympics win.
Of course we had seen the likes of Dorcus Inzikuru, Boniface Kiprop and former Golden boy Moses Kipsiro falter when needed the most. Dorcus Inzikuru brought pride eight years ago with that 3000m steeplechase gold in Helsinki but has recently fallen off the radar. Kipsiro also brought pride in 2010 after winning gold at the Commonwealth games. But of all runners, Kipsiro is probably the one who has had the most chances to write history himself. The jury still stands to watch him.
Stephen Kiprotich is currently the symbol of national pride.An epitome of putting your country first and lifting its glory to the skies. Again I say GREATNESS. A prison warden who decided to chase his dreams in the hills of Kapchorwa, never giving up, staying humble and later on becoming a national hero. Whoever knew!
For so long athletes stayed in the shadow of the legendary John Aki Bua who had previously won our only gold that the mention of any other Ugandan winning Gold was just unheard of. But talk of greatness, a certain unknown Stephen Kiprotich rises from oblivion to upstage Aki Bua as the greatest Ugandan runner of all time being an Olympic and World Champion. So ask yourself. Are your on your way to your dreams? If you are not… wake up my man and rise to the occasion. Oh Hail Stephen.