Uganda has claimed its first gold medal at the 2026 World Athletics Under-20 Championships after Charity Cherop stormed to victory in the women’s 5,000 metres in Eugene, Oregon. Cherop produced a commanding performance at Hayward Field on Thursday, breaking away from the leading pack in the closing stages to win in 15:03.88.
Ethiopia’s Shito Gumi took the silver medal in 15:07.91, while Kenya’s Joyline Chepkemoi claimed bronze in a personal best of 15:09.08. The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the 19-year-old, who won silver at the previous World Under-20 Championships in Lima before upgrading to gold in Eugene. Having arrived in Oregon as one of the favourites, Cherop lived up to expectations with a composed and tactical race.
Speaking after her victory, Cherop dedicated the gold medal to Uganda and thanked her coaches, teammates and supporters for standing by her journey from Lima to Eugene. “I am overwhelmed with joy. Winning silver in Lima motivated me to work even harder, and today I am proud to bring home the gold for Uganda. I thank God, my coaches, my family, and everyone who has supported me. This medal belongs to all Ugandans,” Cherop said.
The victory further strengthens Uganda’s reputation as a powerhouse in long-distance running, with Cherop becoming the latest athlete to emerge on the global stage as the country pursues more medals during the championships. Former Olympic and world champion Joshua Cheptegei hailed Cherop’s triumph, describing it as evidence that Uganda’s future in distance running remains bright.
“Charity has shown great discipline and courage. Winning a world title at such a young age is a reward for years of hard work. This victory should inspire many young Ugandan athletes to believe that they can compete and succeed on the biggest stages in the world,” Cheptegei said. Uganda Athletics President Dominic Otuchet congratulated Cherop on securing the country’s first gold medal of the championships, saying the federation’s investment in developing young athletes is yielding results.
“We are extremely proud of Charity Cherop. She executed her race perfectly and has made Uganda proud. This gold medal reflects the strength of our junior athletics development programme, and we believe many more medals will come from this generation,” Otuchet said. The World Athletics Under-20 Championships continue in Eugene until August 9, with Uganda expected to field more athletes in the middle- and long-distance events as it targets additional medals-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
