Olympic champion and world record holder Joshua Cheptegei, the celebrated Ugandan long-distance runner, is the face of I&M Bank Uganda’s ‘On Your Side’ thematic campaign, that is aimed at reinforcing the bank’s commitment to supporting customers and communities through every stage of their journey.
As part of the initiative, Cheptegei was the inaugural guest on ‘A Chat with the CEO,’ podcast hosted by I&M Bank CEO- Robin Bairstow. Held live, at the thematic launch event, at the Kampala Serena hotel, last Thursday, the first episode had Cheptegei reflect on his rise to the pinnacle of global athletics, the people who have supported him along the way, the work of the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation, and why he believes his partnership with I&M Bank is built 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 I’m sure there’s a whole story behind it all! Take us back to the beginning; what was your journey like, from your early days, to becoming a world champion, and to where you are right now?
Cheptegei: Every journey has a start, and 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 by then. I wanted to become a world champion, having seen what Stephen Kiprotich did at the 2012 London Olympics, as well as the 2013 World Championships in Russia. That inspired me to dream of becoming a superstar. Everyone dreams, but the dream goes through several stages, and throughout there will be challenges here and there, and you have to figure out how you’ll solve the challenges along the way.
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 just starting out in my athletics career, it wasn’t easy. I had struggles with equipment, but luckily my mother bought me shoes during the vacation. Many people thought I’d take long 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 I got people who believed in me, and they helped me.
Robin: What was the turning point that helped you move from being a talented young athlete, into 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. Just after that event, I signed up with Global Sports Communication, one of the leading sports management agencies in athletics, representing many international athletes, including legendary runners like Haile Gebrselassie, Kenenisa Bekele, and Eliud Kipchoge, among others. My first outing was in Bangalore, India. That was my first time boarding a plane, and it was a difficult experience because I wasn’t sure of many things. In India, I took part in the TCS World 10km Road Race. It was in May 2014. I finished second. That was the turning point in my career. It gave me motivation because I knew if I went on to win at other games like the Olympics, I could change my community.
Robin: How do you manage the pressure from public expectations, your team’s expectations, and the records you’ve set?
Cheptegei: When the country is counting on you, you look at people who are having a good time while watching their sports heroes with the expectation of them winning gold medals. I remember at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, after winning one gold medal, I was told by the Sports Minister that all the country’s hope was on me to win another gold. I won the race, but I succumbed to injury, and it messed up the whole of 2018. So, despite the pressure, you always have to ask yourself what you want. Family comes first, of course, and I know that when I am on the track, I have to make them happy.
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’s my community. We have had challenges in the recent past where many talents could not be discovered. But because of government interventions, the story has changed, and everyone can 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. Even people who help us at the camps, e.g. cooks, security personnel, physiotherapists, coaches, and the fans, among others. These are all unsung heroes in the sport, and they don’t get 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 be able to understand what you’re attempting. My initial dream was to become a world champion, and then I achieved huge success on the track. That’s why I am now pursuing marathons. For me, the marathon calling has been there for long, and despite having loved the track, I believe it’s time for the marathons. I believe with the support of I&M Bank, I will get better and better.
Robin: Beyond your achievements on the track, many people admire how you continue to stay connected to your roots and the entire nation through the Joshua Cheptegei Foundation.
Tell us more about the foundation, the work it does in Kapchorwa, and what inspired you to start this journey?
Cheptegei: The Foundation is one of the things I dreamt of when I wanted to drop out of my career because of different challenges. When I reflected on those challenges, I said to myself, ‘we must not rob our community of many undiscovered talents.’ I wanted to make many sports heroes. I also wanted to be involved in the welfare of my people in the areas of health, education, and the environment. In that aspect, we have the Elgon Cup Marathon in Mbale City, where we plant thousands of trees in the eastern part of the country, and we do this with different institutions. We also have a football tournament. We do this to identify different talent in the region. The Foundation also supports children in the area of education.
Robin: What advice would you give to young Ugandans trying to build something meaningful, whether in sports, business, or life?
Cheptegei: To the young people out there: always dare to dream, that will always guide you throughout your life. I always ask people to have a God given vision and speak to it. I used to tell friends at school that I always wanted to be a world champion, and whenever I meet them, they remind me about it. The world out there has opportunities in sport and business, so focus on your dream, and before you know it, the world will start cheering 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 thematic ‘On Your Side’ was inspiring to us. We looked at the values we share, and I believed that a new journey was about to begin, and I know things can get better and better.
Robin: On a lighter note, when you’re not training or competing, what does Joshua Cheptegei enjoy doing?
Cheptegei: I always spend time with my family. I also always spend time checking on my projects. I also spend time reaching out to young people and try to see ways of impacting them. Our people need guidance, so I take time guiding them on different aspects. I also mentor young athletes.
To watch the full episode, click: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yjxo_9fN1Fc
