By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus - KIU's chance to send a representative to the national athletics team for the Tokyo Olympics is now hanging by a thread after sprinter James Ojirot suffered a double hip blood clot that will see him out of action for six weeks with surgery set for Wednesday 19th May 2021 at Agha Khan Hospital in Kampala, ahead of the final national track and field olympics trials commonly known as the closing championships.

Despite being not fully fit physically, James managed to clinch the second position in the double 200-meters and 100-meters trial races. He recorded 11.59 seconds in 100-meters and 23 seconds in the 200-meters during the first trial races held at Namboole stadium on 13th March before hitting 11.45 in 100-meters and 23.68 seconds in 200-meters at the second trial session held on 24th April 2021 at the same venue.

James blames no one for his injury but himself. He said he tried to keep it away from his coaches and therapists until it became worse.

"I never wanted to let people down that's why it took long for me to reveal it until it started worsening," James admitted.

He added that "I saw my leg worsening during speed work and my coaches were able to know that something was wrong because even every race I participated in, I would collapse at the end."

The graduate electrical engineering student, frequently referred to as 'Reverand' by his coach, commentators and fans, has now been advised to avoid any activity that requires muscle power or explosives for six weeks. He can only stretch and ice-smear the affected areas every morning in order to keep the accumulated blood intact. 

James has now resorted to neural science coaching to young musicians, sportsmen, and students as he hopes to return with a new strategy towards his training and attracting new sponsors yet still hopeful for the olympics dream. He also plans to tour around the country to relieve his mind.