Global champions face off in Doha steeplechase

Image: Courtesy of Wanda Diamond League

All three Olympic medallists will be reunited in the women’s steeplechase at the third Wanda Diamond League meeting of the season in Doha on May 16.

Olympic champion Winfred Yavi will take on Tokyo champion Peruth Chemutai and reigning Diamond League champion Faith Cherotich in a Paris 2024 podium rematch at the Qatar Sports Club.

Yavi is the second-fastest women’s steeplechaser of all time and holds three of the ten quickest times ever recorded. She is currently the reigning Olympic, world and Asian Games champion.

Last season, she came within a whisker of breaking the world record when she clocked an Asian record of 8:44.39 at the Wanda Diamond League meeitng in Rome.

“I am always looking for opportunities to run faster and win more,” said the 2023 Diamond League champion. “When I ran my personal best in Rome last year I was actually a little bit disappointed not to break the world record (8:44.32) because I thought it was possible. I’ve been working very hard over the winter and I believe it will happen at some point. It is important to stay focused and to stay hungry. To win gold in Tokyo and successfully defend my world title is my main goal for this year, but I want to run fast and set a high standard when I open my Diamond League season in Doha. Conditions are good in Qatar and when the crowd get behind us, anything is possible.”

Ugandan record-holder Chemutai finished second behind Yavi on that fateful night in Rome, becoming the third-fastest woman of all-time with a personal best 8:48.03.

Paris bronze medallist Cherotich pipped both to the Diamond League title last season, however, battling to victory over Yavi in a thrilling series final in Brussels last September.

The Jetour Doha Meeting is the third meeting of the 2025 Wanda Diamond League. The series – which will pay out a record total of 9.24 million US dollars in prize money – comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field across four different continents, starting with Xiamen on 26 April and concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (27-28 August).

Story: Wanda Diamond League