World Cross Country Champion Jacob Kiplimo survives road accident in Uganda

Two-time World Cross Country champion Jacob Kiplimo on Wednesday survived a road accident after his car skidded off a wet road in Uganda’s Eastern District of Kween.

According to Ugandan publication New Vision, Kiplimo, who recently as Saturday 30 March clinched the senior men’s title at the World Athletics Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, was in the driver’s seat of his grey double cabin, when it veered off the road leaving him to the mercy of onlookers who helped him out of the vehicle.

Further reports indicate that the Ugandan suffered minor injuries, and was driven to Kapchorwa Town for medical treatment.

It is believed that the 23 year old was driving back to his village on the Kamunerket Mengya Road before the incident happened.

“I am not sure how much body damage internally this could have caused to me but I am grateful to God for shielding me. It could have been worse,” Kiplimo said after the accident.

While questions remain on his participation in this year’s summer Olympic Games, residents of the area, speaking to the aforementioned publication, blamed the crash on the poor state of roads in the region (Benet Sub-County) especially during the rainy seasons.

On Saturday, Kiplimo joined Kenenisa Bekele, Geoffrey Kamworor and Paul Tergat as back-to-back winners of the senior men’s cross country title, when he clocked 28:09 to win a repeat gold ahead of Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi (28:12) and Benson Kiplangat (28:14).

WXC Belgrade 24: Jacob Kiplimo defends title as Benson Kiplangat wins bronze