The rare athlete to hold two world records simultaneously

Sport & Games · Published 19 October 2026 · Updated 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 2020, Joshua Cheptegei achieved a feat of historical rarity: becoming only the tenth man in history to hold the world records for both the 5000m and 10,000m concurrently. His rise from a multi-sport primary school student to a global distance running icon is a masterclass in specialized talent.

Born in Kapsewui, Uganda, Cheptegei did not begin his career as a specialist. During his primary school years, he first played football and experimented with long jump and triple jump. It was only after discovering his natural aptitude for distance running that he pivoted his focus. This transition eventually led him to become a dominant force in Ugandan athletics, where he currently serves as a member of the Uganda National Police while training under coach Addy Ruiter.

Cheptegei's dominance is defined by his ability to shatter long-standing records. In 2020, he broke Kenenisa Bekele's 16-year-old 5000m world record by nearly two seconds, clocking a time of 12:35.36 in Monaco. That same year, he improved on Bekele's 15-year-old 10,000m record by more than six seconds in Valencia. His versatility extends to road racing; he has won the Zevenheuvelenloop 15 km four times and set a world record in the 10 km road race in 2019, though that mark was later lowered by Rhonex Kipruto just six weeks later.

Despite his track success, Cheptegei's future may shift toward the roads. After winning the 10,000m gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics—setting a new Olympic record of 26:43.14—he announced he would not defend his 5000m title due to recovery issues. By pivoting towards road racing, he intends to step back from track events; he previously competed in the marathon and achieved a personal best during the 2026 World Athletics Road Running Championships in the half marathon.

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