Who is Peruth Chemutai? Flash Uganda Media looks at her biography, age, husband, family, tribe, relationship with Collin Chebet, Gen. Kale Kayihura, and career, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, 2018 World Junior Championships, the early life and education of a Ugandan steeplechase runner.
Peruth Chemutai is a Ugandan steeplechase runner. She is a gold medallist in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Peruth Chemutai is also the current Inspector of Police in Uganda.
Early life and Education
Peruth Chemutai was born on July 10, 1999, in the Tulel sub-county, Bukwo District to Isaya and Sophie Chebet both residents of Bukwo District. She was named Chemutai which means one born before dawn in Kupsabiny.
In a polygamous family of two mothers, she is the second of 12 children to be born. Since she was a little child, she has been exposed to the life of a peasant. Her father claims he noticed her daughter’s talent when she was just two years old.
Chemutai attended Chemuron Primary School before enrolling in Tulel Secondary School, where she made the decision to drop out of school in her Senior one and chase her dreams.
In 2015, Chemutai was hired by the Uganda Police Force, which was led by Gen. Kale Kayihura, who placed a high value on athletics.
She served as a Special Police Constable (SPC) assigned to the Force’s sports division. Her boyfriend, Collin Chebet is from Kapchorwa.
Career and Professional Work Experience
Peruth Chemutai immersed herself in athletics in 2011 and by 2013, she was ready to participate. She started running in 2013 after visiting the District Athletics Championships in Bukwo as a casual spectator.
In the 1500 and 3000 metres races at the Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia in 2015, she took home silver medals. She also competed in the junior women’s race at the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala, where she finished seventh.
In the women’s 3000 m steeplechase final, she finished seventh at the 2016 IAAF World U20 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland. Her heat-round performance of 9:31.03 at the 2016 Summer Olympics disqualified her from the final.
She took home a notable Silver medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the mid-July 2018 World Junior Championships. A week later, in the Monaco diamond league, she set a new national record with a time of 9:07.94.
She participated in the senior women’s race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark and placed fifth overall.
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Chemutai competed in the 3000-meter steeplechase. She won the gold medal by outlasting early favourites like Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi and Beatrice Chepkoech and finished in a time that set a national record of 9:01.45.
On 20th September 2021, Peruth Chemutai was promoted to the post of Inspector of Police by Inspector General of Police Martin Okoth Ochola.
She replaced her fellow Tokyo 2020 Olympics gold medalist Joshua Cheptegei who was instead promoted to the Assistant Superintendent of Police.
Prior to that, Chemutai was first re-graded from Special Police Constable to Constable.
Peruth Chemutai’s attempt to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase race at the 2022 Oregon World Championships failed miserably.
She was confirmed for the start list despite initially deciding against running after contracting a stomach bacterial infection. She had clocked 9:16:66 to finish in the 6th position in her heat qualifying her for the finals.
In the final of the water-jump event, Chemutai came in a distant 11th position in nine minutes and 21.93 seconds after placing sixth in Heat 2 with a time of 9:16.66. Kenyan Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan won the competition.
In August 2022, Peruth Chemutai won a bronze medal in the 3000 m steeplechase competition at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England at Alexander Stadium.
During the race, she fell and injured herself but this did not stop her from standing again to race making it in the third position with a time of 9:23.24.
The Kenyan Jackline Chepkoech finished in the first position in 9:15.68 making her the new Commonwealth Games 3000 m Steeplechase gold Champion. The silver medal was won by Britain’s Elizabeth Bird who made it in 9:17.79.
Achievements and Awards
When she won the gold medal in the women’s 3000-meter steeplechase event at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, she became the first woman from Uganda to ever win an Olympic medal.
At the Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, Samoa, Chemutai won silver in the 1,500- and 3,000-meter water jump competitions in 2015, marking her first experience with winning a medal.
In the World Athletics U20 Championships, Peruth received a Silver medal when she came in second place at Tampere during the 3000 m steeplechase competitions in 2018.
In 2022, Chemutai received a bronze medal in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. Her personal best times in outdoor games include:
- 2:09.25 in the 800 metres race at Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda on 01st June 2019.
- 4:17.18 in the 1500 metres race at Oordegem, Belgium on 29th May 2016.
- 9:12.60 in the 3000 metres race at Mandela National Stadium, Kampala, Uganda on 22nd May 2021.
- 17:40.0h in the 5000 Metres race in Kampala, Uganda on 30th May 2015
- 9:01.45 in the 3000 Metre Steeplechase competition at National Stadium, Tokyo, Japan on 04th August 2021.
- 15:05 in the 5 Kilometres competition in Lille, France on 20th March 2022
- 34:12 in the 10 Kilometres competition in Kampala, Uganda on 19th November 2017
- Her season’s best times include;
- 9:05.54 in the 3000 Metre Steeplechase at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon (USA) on 28th May 2022.
- 15:05 in the 5 Kilometres race at Lille, France on 20th March 2022.
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