David Okema
Olympics gold medalist, Stephen Kiprotich on Saturday counselled athletes in Gulu to work hard if they are to register success.
Kiprotich was speaking during the senior four farewell party at Northern City High School in Laroo Division in Gulu municipality.
Kiprotich who set world record at the London Olympic marathon 2012/2013 told budding athletes in Gulu to also have trust in God.
“In everything you do, you need to put God first as you work hard in your studies and talent because with God everything is possible and the sky is the limit,” he said.
The athlete was accompanied to Gulu by Benjamin Njia, the National Coach, Uganda National Athletics Federations.
Betty Bigombe Akidi, a 15 year old student who won a medal in the Uganda national athletic competition in Rukungiri district this year said that she got inspired by Dorcas Inzikuri.
Inzikuru ended Uganda’s long drought in international athletics when she won gold in the 3000m steeplechase in Helsinki, Finland in 2005.
Akidi said she would like to be as well known in athletics as Kiprotich, Kipsiro and Inzikuru.
Odong Samuel Atoocon, the Director Northern City High said he invited Kiprotich to grace the farewell party of the senior four students because to inspire the students because the athlete a role model.
Atoocon said last year he invited Moses Kipsiro who won bronze in the 2007 World Championship and represented Uganda in the 2008 Beijing Olympics where he came fourth in the 500m.
Robert Okot, Senior Municipal sports officer for Gulu said that the visit will ignite interest of youngsters in athletics.
