Uganda's Chemutai stuns Kenyans to win steeplechase gold in Tokyo
Uganda's Peruth Chemutai reacts after winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
What you need to know:
- Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng won the bronze.
- Chepkoech, the world record holder and world champion, struggled in the race.
In Tokyo
Uganda's Peruth Chemutai is the Tokyo Olympics 3,000 metres steeplechase gold medallist.
Chemutai produced a devastating kick to out-sprint America's Courtney Frerichs for the gold while Kenya's Hvyin Kiyeng settled for bronze in the race.
Uganda's Peruth Chemutai (right) leads during the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
Chemutai's winning time of 9:01.45 was also Uganda's National Record, and she also became the first East African woman to win the Olympics gold medal in the steeplechase since the event was added to the Summer Games programme in Beijing 2008.
Uganda's Peruth Chemutai reacts after winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
Disgraced Bahraini Agnes Jebet won the gold in the 2016 Olympics but has since been banned from running for the use of performance enhancing drugs.
Frerichs clocked a season's best 9:04.79 while Kiyeng settled third in 9:05.39.
Bronze medalist Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng celebrates after the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
Gold medalist Uganda's Peruth Chemutai (left) poses with bronze medalist Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng after the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
Gold medalist Uganda's Peruth Chemutai (centre) poses with bronze medalist Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng (left) and silver medalist bronze medalist USA's Courtney Frerichs (right) after the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, who has struggled with hamstring and tendon injuries this season, was seventh in 9:16.33 while Wilfred Mutile Yavi (9:19.74), the Kenyan-turned Bahraini, was 10th despite starting the race as one of the favourites.
Uganda's Peruth Chemutai reacts after winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on August 4, 2021.
Chemutai finished fourth in the 2019 World Championships won by Chepkoech.
