By Paris, France – For three consecutive Olympics, no non-African runner had managed to secure a spot on the podium in the women’s 10,000 meters, a race historically dominated by athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, and other African nations.
However, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti ended that streak on Friday night at the Paris Games, earning a silver medal in an event that has been fiercely competitive and largely controlled by runners from Africa.
Battocletti’s potential became widely recognized earlier this year when she swept both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the European Championships in June. However, those victories came without facing the formidable African competitors. The Paris Games provided a different level of competition, with the world’s best runners from Africa present.
During the 5,000 meters earlier in these Games, Battocletti finished fourth. However, the race took a dramatic turn when Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon was disqualified for elbowing Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, leading to Battocletti being upgraded to bronze. This incident signaled to the African competitors just how competitive the Italian runner was.
“After the 5,000, they started greeting me, appreciating me. I received lots of compliments from the Kenyan and Ethiopian girls,” Battocletti shared after the race. “I imagine they had a little bit of fear… I heard them talking in the last laps about who amongst them was about to sprint.”
In the 10,000 meters, it was Beatrice Chebet of Kenya who made the decisive move in the final 100 meters of the race, breaking away from the pack. Battocletti was the only runner able to keep pace with her, securing a hard-fought silver medal. Chebet crossed the finish line in 30 minutes, 43.25 seconds, successfully completing a sweep of the 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Battocletti finished just 0.10 seconds behind her, while Ethiopian-born Dutch runner and defending champion Sifan Hassan came in third, nearly a full second behind the Italian.
“In the last 500-600 meters, I kept my eyes wide open and I told myself, ‘Don’t let her run away,'” Battocletti recounted. “I tried to be as smart as possible, like a fox.”
At just 23 years old, Battocletti’s success marks her as a rising star in long-distance running, proving that she can compete with the best in the world. Her achievement in Paris may be the beginning of a career that could see her continue to challenge the dominance of African runners as they mature into their peak years.
The Associated Press
