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Werkwuha Getachew (born 7 December 1995) is an Ethiopian athlete who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She won the silver medal in the event at the 2022 World Championships and a gold at the 2022 African Championships.
Getachew is the Ethiopian record holder for the 800 metres and 3000 m steeplechase. As of September 2022, she placed fourth at the latter event on the world all-time list. She was at her specialist event 2022 Diamond League champion.
In June 2021 at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium in Hengelo at the Ethiopian Olympic trial event, Werkwuha Getachew caused a sensation in the women's 800m as she lowered her 2:00.20 PB to a world lead of 1:56.67 and set a new national record. She became the first woman in the world to break 1:57 in 2021 and secured her spot at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite being named in official documentation and travelling to Tokyo, Getachew was pulled out the day of the women's 800m heats and did not participate.
Achievements
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | African Championships | Port Louis, Mauritius | 1st | 3000 m st. | 9:36.81 |
| World Championships | Eugene, OR, United States | 2nd | 3000 m st. | 8:54.61 NR |
Personal bests
- 800 metres – 1:56.67 (Hengelo 2021) NR
- 1500 metres – 4:10.0h (Addis Ababa 2021)
- 3000 metres indoor – 8:37.98 (Karlsruhe 2023)
- 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:54.61 (Eugene, OR 2022) NR
Circuit wins and titles, National titles
- Diamond League champion 3000 m steeplechase:2022
- 2022 (3000 m st.): Monaco Herculis, Zürich Weltklasse
- Ethiopian Athletics Championships
- 800 metres: 2021
- 3000 metres steeplechase: 2022