Joshua Cheptegei is back to where it all began and is loving it
The city of Bengaluru and the TCS World 10K holds great significance to Joshua Cheptegei.
It was in 2014 when a young Cheptegei travelled to these parts, in what was his first overseas trip. He competed hard in the international elite men's field, and finished a creditable second behind his mentor, Geoffrey Kamworor.
That showing gave him immense confidence going into the 2014 World junior athletics championships, where he claimed the 10,000m gold.
The Ugandan then went to have a stellar senior career, studded with two Olympic golds (2020 Tokyo 5,000m, and 2024 Paris 10,000m).
Cheptegei is also the current 5,000m and 10,000m world record holder.
Now back to compete in the TCS World 10K after a gap of 11 years, Cheptegei turned nostalgic when asked about his maiden appearance in Bengaluru.
A selfie so fast you might just miss it 😉
Watch our Elite Athletes race on April 27 live only on Sony Ten 1 📺#TCSW10K#EndendiguBengalurupic.twitter.com/mbORmwL0ol — tcsw10k (@TCSWorld10K) April 25, 2025
'The 2014 TCS World 10K was the starting point for me — it opened opportunities for me. After that run, I was a changed person. I could mentally focus and chase my dreams. I was fully determined to conquer the world,' Cheptegei said here on Friday.
The 28-year-old has now left the track behind to focus on road races. 'My priority is more on the roads. I think I've done a lot on the track, and maybe it's time for me to move on.
'In this next chapter of my career, I felt that I needed to go back to Bengaluru and start over again. I hope that this second half of my career turns out great, and that is why I wanted that good feeling I get in Bengaluru,' Cheptegei said.
Cheptegei rated the 2024 Olympics 10,000m gold as a career highlight. Having claimed silver in the event in the previous edition, Cheptegei was solely focused on grabbing the top prize at Paris.
'It was so surprising that I had never won an Olympic title in the 10,000m because that is my best event. I was not going to end my track career happily without winning the 10,000m. I went to Paris with one goal — win the 10,000m gold, not any other medal,' Cheptegei said.
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