04 August 2021 | Athletics

Ugandan middle-distance runner Peruth Chemutai claimed Gold in the 3000m Steeplechase Final after upstaging a world class field at the Tokyo Olympic Games on Wednesday. 

Chemutai rewrote history both for her country and self. We take a look at some of the milestones you can’t afford to overlook.

• Chemutai’s victory in 9:01:45 meant her becoming the first woman from Uganda to ever win Gold at the Olympics. She also doubles as the only woman from Uganda to ever win any medal at the Olympics Games. All medals apart from Chemutai’s have been won by men since 1968 when Eridadi Mukwanga claimed silver in the men’s Bantamweight boxing category.
• Chemutai’s medal is the third Gold medal to ever be won by Uganda at the Olympics. The first gold medal was won by John Akii Bua in the men’s 400m hurdles at the 1972 Munich games. Stephen Kiprotich followed with Gold in the men’s marathon final at the 2012 London Olympics.
• Chemutai’s Gold is the 6th athletics medal in Uganda’s Olympic history after John Akii Bus’s in 1972, Davis Kamoga’s bronze in the men’s 400m at the 1996 Atlanta games, Stephen Kiprotich’s 2012 Gold in London, Joshua Cheptegei’s silver and Jacob Kiplimo’s bronze in the men’s 10,000m at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
• Chemutai’s Gold is also Uganda’s 10th medal overall at the Olympics and the third at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics games.
• Chemutai’s 3000m Steeplechase time of 9:01:45 is her new personal best over the distance but also the new national record. Her previous personal best was 9:07.94 which was also the national record.

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