Uganda’s steeple chase runner Peruth Chemutai yesterday shocked the world by winning a Gold medal in the 3000m final at the ongoing Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
Ugandans were all happy for the first-ever Gold medal won by a woman at the Olympic Games.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni congratulated the Olympiad via his Twitter handle. “I congratulate Peruth Chemutai upon winning gold in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Olympic Games in Tokyo and becoming the first Ugandan woman to do so. The country is extremely proud of you. Kongoi” Museveni briefly congratulated Chemutai.
Janet Kataaha Museveni, Minister for Education and Sports also sent her congratulatory message via her Twitter handle, the minister also congratulated Winnie Nanyondo for qualifying for the 1500m finals.
“Congratulations Peruth Chemutai upon winning a gold medal for Uganda in the 3000m steeplechase. We are so proud of you. I also congratulate Winnie Nanyondo upon qualifying to the next level in the 1500m race. We are praying for you and your colleagues to excel in all the races,” Janet Museveni Twitted.
Many Ugandans said it is a great win because they never expected the medal from the steeplechaser noting that all hopes were in long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei.
Hussein Katumba, a businessman in Kampala downtown said this is historical. He said he is super excited about the medal because he never thought Uganda can pull off anything if it is Cheptegei.
“I do not know how to tell this, I can’t even start, I never thought any other person can win a medal if it was not Cheptegei, I send big congratulations to her,” Katumba said.
Doreen, an athletics fan said she was happy about the Gold, but also said the Government should not be taxing those people because they carry our flag.
“I am so happy but they should not be taxing the sportspeople in all what they do because they go through a lot of hustle to bring these medals and the government contributes less more so during their training.”
Aloysius Byamukuma, a businessman in Kisenyi said he is very excited about Chemutai’s Gold medal win.
Samuel Mugisha, a resident of Entebbe said he is very happy for Chemutai and praying that those who have qualified for the finals also win medals.
Christine Nabbanja, a resident of Entebbe said she is very happy for the medal and continues to pray that Uganda wins more medals at the games.
Chemutai who came into the race ranked tenth globally, outsprinted the world’s best steeplechase runners who include Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng, Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi and Emma Coburn from the United States to win the gold medal.
She is also the first Ugandan female athlete to win a medal in the Olympic games, and the third to win gold after John Akii Bua in 1972 and Stephen Kiprotich in 2012.
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