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| Human Interest | |
|---|---|
Sport Specific Information | |
| Club / Team | Elgon: Uganda |
General Interest | |
| Injuries | He suffered a knee injury during a gym session at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. (iaaf.org, 13 Feb 2011) After the 2009 World Championships in Berlin he complained of a minor Achilles injury. (iaaf.org, 13 Feb 2011) His car was damaged and he suffered minor injuries during political riots in 2009. (iaaf.org, 13 Feb 2011) In 2008 he suffered a back strain while finishing the 13th World Cross Country Championships and it ruled him out of the African Championships held between April and May. (iaaf.org, 13 Feb 2011) |
| Awards and honours | In 2010 the Ugandan parliament presented him with a house and car for winning two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi. They also promised to invest more money in grassroots sports facilities because of his achievements. (newvision.co.ug, 20 Oct 2010) The Uganda Sports Press Association voted him the 2007 and 2008 Sports Personality of the Year, making him the first athlete to win the award for two consecutive years. (iaaf.org, 11 Mar 2011) |
Sport Specific Information | |
| Name of coach | Benjamin Longiross [national] |
| Training Regime | He runs between 120-150 kilometres in Bukwo, Uganda. |
International Debut | |
| Year | 2006 |
| Competing for | Uganda |
| Tournament | World Cross Country Championships |
| Location | Fukuoka |
General Interest | |
| Nicknames | Kip, The Versatile Ugandan (iaaf.org, 01 Sep 2011) |
| Other information | QATAR He and fellow Ugandan Patrick Kibwota were approached by Qatar in 2002. The pair were offered citizenship in return for competing for Qatar and both athletes agreed to the deal. However Kipsiro could not get to Kampala to pick up his ticket to Qatar, as he could not raise the money to travel from Nairobi. (iaaf.org, 11 Mar 2011) FAMILY WELFARE His parents are farmers and do not have enough money to raise the family so he pays school fees for his eight brothers and four sisters. He persuaded his brother Ben Sande to quit the army in order to become a business man. "I have to assist them as much as I can. I find it difficult looking after such a big family but it is my duty." (iaaf.org, 11 Mar 2011) CAPTAIN He was named as the captain of the relay team that went to the 2011 World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, Spain. (ghanamma.com, 17 Mar 2011) BEIJING His coach Benjamin Longiross had to return to Uganda during the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, leaving him with no coach in the run up to the 5000m final. As a result he did not receive his usual leg massage before the final and eventually finished fourth. "I implored the UOC [Uganda Olympic Committee] officials to change my ticket so that I could be by Kipsiro's side but nothing was done about the issue. I think he should have won a medal," Longiross said. (iaaf.org, 11 Mar 2011) ATHLETICS He is grateful for the opportunity that athletics has afforded him and has used his winnings to help restore his parent's farm after they were robbed of their livestock. "Most of my former schoolmates are doing badly. They struggle to get something to eat but I thank God. He made me what I am. At least I have built a decent house for my parents. I have also established a farm and there are about seven cows, which is good for my family. I am trying to replace the cows but it's not easy. I hope they don't come back and take what I've bought." (iaaf.org, 11 Mar 2011) |
Further Personal Information | |
| Family | Wife Benna Chebet and one child |