Chemutai returns to Tokyo chasing elusive World Championship medal

Achievements

 Olympics – 3000mSC Gold and Silver

Commonwealth – 3000mSC Bronze

Africa Games- 3000mSC Silver

World Under20 athletics Championships – 3000mSC Silver

With an Olympic gold and silver medal already in her cabinet, Peruth Chemutai is one of Uganda’s greatest female athletes. Yet, even with her glittering career, one accolade still eludes her; a World Athletics Championships medal.

Chemutai is among the 21 athletes set to represent Uganda at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, scheduled for September 13–21.

The steeplechase star will line up for her fifth consecutive appearance at the global event, having made her debut at the 2017 edition in London.

Since then, Chemutai has consistently stood tall for Uganda on the international stage. Her crowning moment came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where she stormed to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase final, becoming the first Ugandan woman ever to win an Olympic gold medal. She later added a silver medal at the 2024 Olympics, further solidifying her legendary status.

However, despite her dominance elsewhere, the World Championships have remained a tough hunting ground for her. Each attempt has ended short of the podium, leaving her hungry for redemption.

Now, as she returns to Tokyo, the city that holds her sweetest sporting memory, the 26 year-old is determined to rewrite her world championship story. On September 15, she will step onto the track for the heats, knowing that every stride counts toward the long awaited medal.

Her coach, Benjamin Njia, has no doubts about her potential this year.

“Chemutai is one of our best athletes on the team. She has trained so hard, and with the right preparation, she can do wonders. This could be the moment when she completes her medal collection,” Njia said with optimism.

For Chemutai, the mission is clear: fight through the heats, advance to the final, and give everything in pursuit of the medal that has eluded her for nearly a decade. And if history is anything to go by, Tokyo might once again be the stage where she creates another chapter of greatness for herself and for Uganda.