- Achieves record-breaking performance
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda, the reigning 5000m champion from the Tokyo Olympics, clinched the 10000m gold at the Paris Olympics on Friday night, further embellishing his impressive career. Cheptegei captured victory with a record-setting Olympic Games time of 26:43.14 during a dramatic final lap.
As the race unfolded, Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia moved to the lead after 23 minutes, as Ahmed, Kejelcha and Fisher were near the front of the pack. Twelve athletes remained in contention with two laps to go.
Cheptegei went to the front with 600 metres to go after a very fast race and extended his lead. Aregawi, Ahmed, Fisher, Kiplimo and Kejelcha tried to catch up the pace with Cheptegei.
Aregawi, who had finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and last year’s World Championships, launched his sprint down the home straight and edged Fisher in the final stages to claim the silver medal in 26:43.14. Grant Fisher earned the bronze medal in a seasonal best of 26:43.46 to win the first medal for the USA at the Olympic Games since Galen Rupp’s silver in London 2012.
Savouring his victory, Cheptegei said; “I can’t describe the feeling. I have wanted this for a long time. When I took silver in Tokyo. I was disappointed I wanted just to win the 10000m. It’s the dream of young people to achieve what they want to achieve in life.
“Barely 16 years ago when I was watching the great Kenenisa Bekele win in Beijing, it was something that grew in my heart”.
Interestingly, the first 13 athletes dipped under the previous Olympic record. Yomif Kejelcha from Ethiopia with 26:44.02 ahead of Selemon Bareba (26:44.48) and Jacob Kiplimo (26:46.39). National records were set by Thierry Ndikumenayo from Spain (26:49.49), Adrian Wildshutt from South Africa (26:50.64) and Jimmy Gressier from France (26:58.67).
The men’s 10000m final was exceptionally competitive, with the top six runners finishing within one second of each other, adding to the race’s intensity.
See Full Results Here
Men’s 10000m Final Top 10 Results
POS Athlete Nat Result
1 Joshua CHEPTEGEI UGA 26:43.14 OR
2 Berihu AREGAWI ETH 26:43.44
3 Grant FISHER USA 26:43.46 SB
4 Mohammed AHMED CAN 26:43.79 SB
5 Benard KIBET KEN 26:43.98 PB
6 Yomif KEJELCHA ETH 26:44.02
7 Selemon BAREGA ETH 26:44.48
8 Jacob KIPLIMO UGA 26:46.39 SB
9 Thierry NDIKUMWENAYO ESP 26:49.49 NR
10 Adriaan WILDSCHUTT RSA 26:50.64 NR
