Tokyo 2021: Ugandan Peruth Chemutai Olympic champion in the 3000m steeplechase
Ugandan Peruth Chemutai, Olympic champion in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, on August 4, in Tokyo.
REUTERS - LUCY NICHOLSON
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1 min
The Ugandan Peruth Chemutai won the Olympic title in the 3,000 meters steeplechase this Wednesday August 4 in Tokyo in 9:01:45, ahead of the American Courtney Frerichs and the Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng.
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She brought Uganda her first Olympic gold medal since 2012. Nine years after marathoner Stephen Kiprotich, Peruth Chemutai won the 3,000-meter steeplechase by beating her country's record in 9 minutes 1 seconds and 45 hundredths.
Chemutai thus won the third Olympic title in the history of his country, all sports combined.
Peruth Chemutai was more than 3 seconds ahead of the American Courtney Frerichs and the Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng, after having resisted the acceleration of the American in the 1000 meters.
Chemutai makes history by becoming the first Ugandan to win gold in this event.
The Ugandan athlete took 5th place at the Doha Worlds in 2019.
Third medal for Uganda in Tokyo
The big favorite, the Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech, world record holder (in 8:44:32) and reigning world champion, exploded and finished 7th.
At 22, the Ugandan climbs for the first time on an international podium and brings her country a third medal in Tokyo, after Joshua Cheptegei's silver and Jacob Kiplimo's bronze in the 10,000 meters last week.
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