Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni attributed East African countries' dominance in long-distance running to the fact that many athletes from the region are born in high-altitude areas, training from a young age in low-oxygen environments, which enhances their lung efficiency.
In what could be deemed one of the most grueling track events of the Olympic Games, Joshua Cheptegei, Uganda's leading athlete and world record holder, clinched gold in the men's 10,000m final at the Paris Olympic Games, recording the fastest time ever in Olympic history at 26:43.14.
In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), President Museveni shed light on the secret formula behind East African countries such as Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia producing the world's top long-distance runners through their training methods.
"We are taking advantage of the higher altitude. This is part of biology. Some of those people who are doing good running are born in mountain areas. If you are born in a mountain area, up in the mountain, the oxygen is less. There's more oxygen at sea level than in the mountain. So, their lungs from childhood learn how to use little oxygen. They have got more efficient lungs. They are all from highland areas who can run those long distances," Museveni said.
Museveni also highlighted Uganda's commitment to investing in a high-altitude training center to further elevate the performance of their athletes.
"We have built a high-altitude training center in that area where Cheptegei comes from. We have built a training center there, 2,000 something meters above sea level," he said.
Ugandan President credits East Africa's long-distance running success to high-altitude environment
Long-standing challenges in Mexico's automotive industry have been exacerbated with the implementation of the U.S. tariff on imported cars, which took effect Thursday, fueling uncertainty and job losses.
Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent tariff on all imported automobiles.
Ciudad Juarez, one of Mexico's largest trade ports and a key manufacturing hub, is now facing even greater challenges as rising trade protectionism deepens existing pressures.
At a medal parts manufacturing factory that has been in operation for over 30 years, the workforce has drastically reduced from 60 workers to just 25 due to uncertainty about the future.
Even before the U.S. tariffs on imported cars took effect, mounting pressure had already begun to ripple through the industry, prompting many companies to suspend investment and procurement plans.
"Some 95 percent of the products exported from Chihuahua, where Ciudad Juarez is located, are industrial manufactured goods. We have held multiple meetings to discuss solutions. In fact, over the past year and a half, more than 55,000 factory workers here in the city have lost their jobs," said the owner of the factory.
The automotive industry is a key pillar of Mexico's economy, generating nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars in output. The auto parts assembly industry alone provides over 900,000 jobs for the country, while automotive assembly companies create 175,000 jobs.
According to statistics from the Mexican Association of Automotive Dealers (AMDA), over 40 percent of the components used by American auto manufacturers are imported from Mexico. Last year, Mexico produced four million cars, approximately three million of which were exported to the U.S.
Industry insiders indicate that due to the high degree of interdependence in the sector between the U.S. and Mexico, along with a shortage of skilled labor, the U.S. goal of bringing automotive manufacturing back to its shores through tariffs is unlikely to be realized in the short term.
Moreover, the established industrial chain in Mexico faces the risk of being disrupted, which will ultimately have repercussions on consumer spending and further exacerbate inflation in the long run.
"Young people from the U.S. are no longer willing to work in the manufacturing sector. I believe there will be no growth in the relocation of automotive parts and vehicles factories in the short term," said Guillermo Rosales Zarate, ADMA's executive president.
"Personally, I hope this avalanche of tariffs doesn't continue; otherwise, it will lead to more significant issues affecting the U.S. economy. If these tariffs remain in place long-term, it will be the American people who suffer the most," said Ricardo Ramos, a professor with the Autonomous University of Ciudad Juarez.
U.S. automotive tariffs deepen industry pressures, halt investments in Mexico
