Rio 2016: Stephen Kiprotich Arrives in Rio, Assured Ugandans a Medal on Sunday

Defending Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich, who arrived in Rio yesterday, ahead of Sunday’s marathon final, assured Ugandan fans of coming back with a medal.

Kiprotich departed on Monday with two other Ugandan marathoners. The two, who were flagged off by Omara Apita of the Ministry of Education and Sports are also medal hopefuls.

Solomon Mutai is a 2015 world champion Bronze medalist while Jackson Kiprop won the Mumbai Marathon in 2013.

Like their captain, Mutai and Kiprop are confident that they will be on the podium, come Sunday.

Uganda however, has its work cut out with Kenya fielding a team led by Elind Kipchoge who has won four marathons since 2014. Stanley Biwot and Wesely Korir are the other marathoners from the Kenyan team.

Ethiopia will also field a solid team that has Tesfaye Abera, Lemi Berhanu and Fayisa Lilesa.

The men’s marathon final will bring the the curtains down on Rio 2016. Sunday has been predicted to bring humid conditions.

Ugandans are also hoping so much that Kiprotich and his teammates bask in the glory despite those conditions.

Photo Credit: IAAF