Paul Chelimo Leaves Army WCAP Team, Signs With Total Sports & Nike

By Jonathan Gault
November 3, 2018

Chelimo winning the 2018 USA 5,000-meter title

NEW YORK — Paul Chelimo, the 2016 Olympic silver medalist at 5,000 meters, is leaving the Army World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) team and to sign with Total Sports and Nike. Chelimo, who came to the United States from Kenya for college (first at Shorter University, then UNC Greensboro) joined the Army in May 2014 and gained his U.S. citizenship that year. He will be officially discharged from the Army next week, but will remain training in Colorado Springs with his coach Scott Simmons.

Chelimo’s Nike career began in style this morning as he won the USATF 5K Championships on the streets of New York, setting a course record of 13:45 to beat out his training partner Shadrack Kipchirchir, who, like Chelimo, recently left the WCAP team to sign with Nike.

Army regulations prevent WCAP athletes from having endorsement deals.

*Discuss: Paul Chelimo has signed with Nike, is leaving the Army