Ruth Jebet
BahrainActive- Born
- Nov 17, 1996 (29 years old)
- Birthplace
- Kenya, Kenya
- Events
- 3000 m steeplechase · Marathon
- Height
- 1.62 m
- Weight
- 51 kg
Ruth Jebet, born on 17 November 1996 in Kenya, is a Kenyan-born long-distance runner and steeplechase specialist who competes internationally for Bahrain. A prodigious talent from an early age, she achieved remarkable success before turning 20, establishing herself as one of the most gifted steeplechasers of her generation.
Jebet won the gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, a triumph that also saw her set the world record in the event. Both accomplishments, achieved while still a teenager, underscored her extraordinary ability over barriers and distance. Her meteoric rise made her one of the most talked-about young athletes in the sport.
However, her career was derailed in 2018 when she was suspended after testing positive for erythropoietin (EPO), a prohibited performance-enhancing substance. The suspension cast a shadow over her earlier achievements and interrupted what had been a trajectory toward sustained dominance in the steeplechase.
As of Oct 27, 2026: 3000 m steeplechase 8:52.78 (#5 all-time), Marathon 2:23:08 (#280 all-time), 2025 season best 33:10.63 (Nov 17, 2025, Riyadh (KSA)) · Last competition: Daegu Marathon, Feb 22, 2026, DNF · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 29 years old
Personal bests
WA points calculator →Medals
| Competitions | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Olympic Games | 1 | – | – | 1 |
Progression
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10000m | 33:10.63 | – | Nov 17, 2025 | 6th Islamic Solidarity Games |
| 2025 | Marathon | 2:25:43 | – | Feb 23, 2025 | Daegu Marathon |
| 2024 | Semi | 1:09:10 | – | Apr 28, 2024 | Türkiye İş Bankası Istanbul Half Marathon |
| 2024 | Marathon | 2:24:45 | – | Nov 3, 2024 | Türkiye iş Bankasi Istanbul Marathon, Istanbul |
| 2023 | 400m | 54.92 | – | Jul 4, 2023 | Arab Games Algiers 2023, Complexe Olympique Mohamed Boudiaf, Algiers |
| 2023 | 10000m | 33:38.97 | – | Jul 6, 2023 | Arab Games Algiers 2023, Complexe Olympique Mohamed Boudiaf, Algiers |
| 2023 | CrossCount | 34:09 | – | Feb 5, 2023 | Arab Cross Country Championships, Cairo International Complex, Cairo - XC 10.0km |
| 2023 | Semi | 1:08:22 | – | Oct 29, 2023 | SwissCityMarathon - Lucerne - Half Marathon |