The Ugandan Athletics Federation announced Jacob Kiplimo, last year’s 10,000m world championship bronze medalist, will miss this year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest due to a hamstring injury.

What you need to know:

– Jacob Kiplimo was entered in the 5000m and 10,000m.

– The federation announced: “Kiplimo sustained the injury during the speed work training session on August 1, 2023 in Kapchorwa. The medical report indicated he sustained an acute injury to the right hamstring and needs a few more weeks to recover completely. He is therefore not expected to train optimally in the next one to two months, the report added. Uganda Team Doctor Martin Chebet ruled him out of the championships after two weeks of medical consultation and management of the injury.”

– On Instagram, he shared the following statement: "Unfortunately, I have to withdraw from the world championships in Budapest starting on 19 August. On 1st August, I got an injury during a speedwork session. Together with my team, coach, management, Federation and the physio, we tried everything possible to manage and be ready for my races in Hungary. After almost two weeks of treatments and medical consulting, I'm still not able to train and run 100% and of course, I could not be able to fight for what I trained for the whole year. Budapest was the main goal of 2023 and renouncing my participation is very sad for me, but this is the sport. I thank my staff to have tried whatever was possible to make it. I wish all my Ugandan teammates and all the athletes attending the championships the best."

– Kiplimo was considered a medal favorite in the 5000m after running 12:41.73 at the Oslo Diamond League in June. He is tied for the sixth-fastest man in history for the 5000m.

– He has not run a 10,000m race this season. Last year, he was third at the World Championships behind compatriot Joshua Cheptegei and Kenya’s Stanley Waithaka. Kiplimo won the 2022 Commonwealth Games title.

– In February, Kiplimo won the World Cross Country Championships.