Peruth Chemutai made history on Wednesday, becoming the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic Games gold medal in any sport when she won gold in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
The 22-year-old clocked in at a time of 9:01.45, a Ugandan national record.
Peruth Chemutai becomes the first #UGA woman to win #gold in any Olympic sport in the women’s 3000m steeplechase! 👏#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | #Athletics | @WorldAthletics pic.twitter.com/CsHYn3oM6B— Olympics (@Olympics) August 4, 2021
Peruth Chemutai becomes the first #UGA woman to win #gold in any Olympic sport in the women’s 3000m steeplechase! 👏#StrongerTogether | #Tokyo2020 | #Athletics | @WorldAthletics pic.twitter.com/CsHYn3oM6B
Finishing in second and capturing silver was American Courtney Frerichs, who became just the second American woman to win a medal in steeplechase.
Emma Coburn, who won bronze in 2016, fell with two laps left and was eventually disqualified. Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng took bronze.
BRINGING HOME SOME SILVER! 🥈@courtfrerichs8 crosses the line in second in the women's 3000m steeplechase final. #TokyoOlmypics pic.twitter.com/2Ib22yM8Mk— #TokyoOlympics (@NBCOlympics) August 4, 2021
BRINGING HOME SOME SILVER! 🥈@courtfrerichs8 crosses the line in second in the women's 3000m steeplechase final. #TokyoOlmypics pic.twitter.com/2Ib22yM8Mk
It’s just the third Olympic gold won by Uganda in any sport, with the last being won by Stephen Kiprotich in the 2012 marathon.