EUGENE, USA — Uganda’s Charity Cherop has won gold in the women’s 5,000 metres at the 21st World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, delivering the country its first individual gold medal at the global junior championship in more than a decade.
Cherop clocked 15:03.88 to claim victory at Hayward Field, upgrading from the silver medal she won at the previous edition of the championships. She finished ahead of Ethiopia’s Shito Gumi, who took silver in 15:07.91, while Kenya’s Joyline Chepkemoi won bronze in 15:09.08.
The 19-year-old’s triumph makes her the fifth Ugandan athlete to win a gold medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships and the first since Joshua Cheptegei won the men’s 10,000 metres title at the same venue in 2014.
Uganda Athletics celebrated Cherop’s achievement, describing it as a “stellar performance” that marked a significant moment for the country’s rising generation of athletes.
“Gold for Uganda. Charity Cherop put up a stellar performance, winning the women’s 5000m at the World Athletics U20 Championships in 15:03.88,” Uganda Athletics said.
“Congratulations. She upgrades from the silver two years ago to gold.”
Cherop’s victory adds another chapter to Uganda’s growing reputation in long-distance running, a tradition built by athletes including Joshua Cheptegei, Jacob Kiplimo and Peruth Chemutai.
The victory also marks a strong return to the top for Cherop, who had finished second in the women’s 5,000 metres at the previous World Athletics U20 Championships. In the 2024 edition in Lima, Peru, she won silver after finishing behind Ethiopia’s Mekedes Alemeshete.
Cherop has continued to establish herself as one of Uganda’s leading young distance runners. World Athletics lists her among Uganda’s emerging talents in the 5,000m and 3,000m events, with a personal best of 14:39.38 in the 5,000 metres recorded in 2026.
Her gold medal comes as Uganda fields a new generation of athletes at junior level, with the country increasing its representation at international competitions. Uganda Athletics previously noted strong qualification numbers ahead of the U20 championships, highlighting the depth of emerging talent in the national programme.
At Hayward Field, a venue that has witnessed some of Uganda’s biggest athletics moments, Cherop held her nerve in a competitive final to secure Uganda’s latest global title.
Her victory further strengthens Uganda’s presence on the international athletics stage and offers a glimpse into the future of the country’s distance-running programme.