Paris 2024 athletics: In record-breaking final, Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei clinches gold with Olympic record in men’s 10,000m
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| Picture by Christian Petersen/Getty Images |
A Historic Race at the Stade de France
In an electrifying final at the Stade de France, Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei emerged victorious in the men's 10,000m, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 26:43.14. The race, featuring the reigning Olympic champion, world champion, and current world record holder, was one of the most anticipated events of the Paris 2024 athletics competition.
A Record-Breaking Performance
- Joshua Cheptegei, the world record holder, clinched the gold medal in a thrilling finish.
- The first 13 runners all finished under the previous Olympic record, which had stood since 2008.
- Cheptegei's victory marked his first Olympic gold in the 10,000m, following a silver medal in Tokyo 2020.
Cheptegei's Reaction
"I can’t describe the feeling. I’ve wanted this for a long time," Cheptegei said. "When I took silver in Tokyo 2020, I was disappointed. I just wanted to win the 10,000m."
A Transition to Marathon
Cheptegei announced that this race would be his last on the track as he plans to shift his focus to the marathon.
Silver and Bronze Medalists
- Berihu Aregawi (Ethiopia): Took silver, finishing just 0.3 seconds behind Cheptegei. Aregawi and his Ethiopian teammates had led for much of the race.
- "We had a team strategy to push the pace and we showed great teamwork. I am very sad we did not achieve the gold medal as a team," Aregawi remarked.
- He dedicated his silver medal to his country, improving on his fourth-place finish from Tokyo 2020.
- Grant Fisher (USA): Claimed the bronze, narrowly missing silver by 0.02 seconds.
- "It means so much. You’ve got to be tough to win a medal. I made it today and it feels incredible," Fisher said.
- Reflecting on the atmosphere, Fisher added, "The biggest stadium I’ve ever been in was Tokyo and that one was dead silent. This was so, so different. From the first lap, the crowd was screaming. The 10,000m doesn’t get a lot of love sometimes, but that crowd made it feel like we were the best show in town."
Other Notable Finishers
- Reigning Olympic champion Selemon Barega of Ethiopia finished in seventh place with a time of 26:44.48.
Conclusion
The men’s 10,000m final at Paris 2024 will be remembered as one of the most competitive and record-breaking races in Olympic history. Joshua Cheptegei's historic performance, along with the incredible depth of the field, showcased the pinnacle of athletic endurance and determination.
Source: Olympics News