By Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei stormed to victory in the men’s Olympic 10,000-metre race at the Stade de France on Friday, claiming gold with a new Olympic record of 26 minutes and 43.14 seconds. The three-time world champion demonstrated his prowess by overcoming strong competition from Ethiopian runners to secure the top spot on the podium.
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi clinched silver with a time of 26:43.44, narrowly edging out American Grant Fisher by a mere two-hundredths of a second. Cheptegei’s winning performance shattered Kenenisa Bekele’s 2008 Olympic record by an impressive 18 seconds.
The race unfolded dramatically, with a pack of 13 athletes running the final two-thirds together, all finishing under the 27-minute mark. Ethiopian runners Selemon Barega, Yomif Kejelcha, and Aregawi took turns setting the pace, employing team tactics to challenge their competitors. Cheptegei, however, made his decisive move just before the final 400 metres, showcasing his exceptional finishing speed.
Early in the race, the Ethiopian team initiated surges that split the field after just two laps. By the halfway point, the lead pack had been whittled down to 15 runners. Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and Kenya’s Benard Kibet made strong challenges in the latter stages, adding to the race’s intensity.
Cheptegei, who previously won silver in Tokyo and gold in the 5,000 metres, adds this Olympic 10,000m title to his already impressive collection. His victory marks the first track gold of the Paris 2024 Games and cements his status as one of the greatest distance runners of his generation.
The event, held before a near-capacity crowd of 69,000 at the Stade de France, showcased world-class distance running in ideal warm conditions. The exceptional level of competition was evident as all top 12 finishers completed the race in under 27 minutes.
This triumph builds upon Cheptegei’s world record and world championship successes, further solidifying his place in the pantheon of distance running greats. As the Paris Olympics continue, Cheptegei’s performance sets a high bar for the athletics competitions to follow.
