Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei Wins Olympic 10,000m Gold in Record Time

In Summary

• Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei won the Olympic 10,000-meter final in a record time of 26:43.14, marking Uganda's first-ever gold in this event.
• Cheptegei surged to the front in the final lap, overtaking the leading Ethiopians to secure the win. Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi took silver, and American Grant Fisher earned bronze.
• This victory adds to Cheptegei's impressive record, including world titles and a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics. He expressed excitement about completing his collection with an Olympic gold.
• Sifan Hassan, an Ethiopian-born Dutch runner, finished second in her 5,000-meter heat, aiming to compete in the 10,000 meters and marathon as well, despite acknowledging the difficulty of winning medals in all three.
• The U.S. mixed 4x400 meter relay team set a new world record, finishing in 3:07.41, advancing to the final where the record may be challenged again.
• Americans Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, along with New Zealand's Tom Walsh, advanced to the shot put final, aiming for a repeat of their previous 1-2-3 finishes. Italy's Leonardo Fabbri had the top throw in qualifying.
• Jasmine Moore secured her spot in the triple jump finals with a single jump of 14.43 meters, while Cuba's Leyanis Perez Hernandez led the qualifiers. The event is open due to the absence of defending champion Yulimar Rojas.

KAMPALA, UGANDA- Ugandan long-distance runner Joshua Cheptegei delivered a stunning performance on the opening night of track events at the Stade de France, winning the 10,000-meter final in an Olympic record time of 26 minutes, 43.14 seconds. This victory marked Uganda’s first gold in the 112-year history of the Olympic 10,000 meters, adding a significant achievement to Cheptegei’s illustrious career.

The world-record holder ran most of the race in the middle of the pack, biding his time as a group of Ethiopian runners set a blistering pace at the front. With just over a lap remaining, Cheptegei made his move, surging ahead around the curve and holding the lead over the final 500 meters. Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi finished second, securing the silver medal, while American Grant Fisher won bronze, marking the first U.S. medal in this event since 2012.

Cheptegei’s win earned him $50,000, a new prize introduced for Olympic track champions this year. Reflecting on his victory, he said, “Now, my collection is complete. I was the world champion. Now, I win the Olympic title. I'm so excited.” This victory adds to his previous accomplishments, including a silver medal from the Tokyo Olympics and world titles in 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Sifan Hassan's Ambitious Olympic Goals

Dutch runner Sifan Hassan, known for her endurance and versatility, completed the first leg of her ambitious Olympic schedule by finishing second in the first round of the 5,000 meters. Hassan, who won medals in the 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Olympics, plans to compete in the 10,000 meters and the marathon as well in Paris.

Despite acknowledging that winning medals in all three events might be unrealistic this time, Hassan is driven by curiosity and determination. “When I’m at the start line, I always ask myself: ‘Why? Why? What is wrong with you?’ But when I go home, I want to do it,” she said after finishing her heat in 14 minutes, 57.65 seconds.

U.S. Mixed 4x400 Relay Team Sets World Record

The U.S. mixed 4x400 meter relay team set a new world record, finishing the race in 3 minutes, 7.41 seconds. The team, composed of Vernon Norwood, Shamier Little, Bryce Deadmon, and Kaylyn Brown, broke the previous mark set at the world championships last year. This record-setting performance placed them in Saturday’s final, where they will aim to challenge their own record again.

Shot Put Finalists and Triple Jump Qualifiers

Americans Ryan Crouser and Joe Kovacs, along with New Zealand’s Tom Walsh, advanced to the shot put final, with hopes of finishing 1-2-3 for the third consecutive Olympics. Crouser, despite dealing with an elbow injury, needed only one throw to qualify with a mark of 21.49 meters. Italy’s Leonardo Fabbri had the top throw of the evening at 21.76 meters.

In the women’s triple jump, Jasmine Moore secured her place in the finals with a season-best jump of 14.43 meters on her first attempt. Leyanis Perez Hernandez of Cuba led the qualifiers with a jump of 14.68 meters. The competition is wide open due to the absence of defending champion and world-record holder Yulimar Rojas of Venezuela, who is out with an Achilles tendon injury.

These performances set the stage for an exciting continuation of the track and field events in Paris, with more records and memorable moments likely to come.