Right now Peruth Chemutai is the most popular name in Uganda lucky enough not for a bad reason but for a great reason.
Chemutai has just won gold in the Women’s 3000m steeplechase. Uganda’s first Gold in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Uganda’s first female Olympic medalist in the Athletics Women’s 3000m Steeplechase. Also third Gold for Uganda since Akii Bua and Stephen Kiprotich. It takes Uganda’s overall medal tally at the Olympics to 10 and three at the on-going Tokyo Olympics.
Chemutai has proved to have excellently picked tricks from Dorcus Inzikuru who has been at this stage before, she won the inaugural world title in women’s 3000 m steeplechase, as well as the first Commonwealth title in the event.
But who is this 22-year-old Chemutai
Chemutai is attached to Uganda Police Force. She hails from Bukwo District in Eastern Uganda. Bukwo District is bordered by Amudat District to the north, Kenya to the east and south, and Kween District to the west and northwest.
She took up running in 2013 after attending the District Athletics Championships in Bukwo as a casual fan. At the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, she won silver medals in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres.
She also competed in the junior women’s race at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, finishing in 7th place.
In 2016, she finished in 7th place in the final of the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
At the 2018 World Junior Championships held in mid July, she claimed a notable Silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase. A week later, at the Monaco diamond league, she set a national record with a time of 9:07.94
In 2019, she competed in the senior women’s race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark. She finished in 5th place.