Uganda is rejoicing after Halimah Nakaayi won gold at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha on Monday September 30.
This was after the 24 year old posted 1:58:04, finishing in the first position in the Women’s 800 meter final, ahead of RAeyn Rogers and Ajee Wilson from US.
Meanwhile Winnie Nanyondo finished in the fourth position.
“I was feeling so good, I knew something special was going to happen tonight. So I just kept pushing and pushing. I was feeling strong and in the end I got it.” Nakaayi said after her history making victory.
Here are five things you need to know about Nakaayi.
- Nakaayi is one of the first two women to take part as a finalist in the Women’s 800m, joining Winnie Nanyondo. Uganda has never had a World Championships finalist in the women’s 800m.
- She is the first Ugandan woman to win gold in the Women’s 800m at the IAAF World Athletics Championships and only the second ever, to win gold. Dorcus Inzikuru became the first Ugandan woman to win a gold medal at the tournament after finishing in the first position in the 3000m steepchase in 2005.
- Nakaayi is also a bronze medal winner. Prior to taking part in the IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019, she participated in the All Africa Games in August where she took bronze after finishing in the
- She started competing at world level in 2011, representing Uganda in the 400m competitions at the commonwealth Youth games and the World Youth Championship in France where she competed in the 800m race and finished in the 26th position.
