On Friday night (2), at the end of the first full day of in-stadium athletics action at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Cheptegei finally won the title he had been longing for, claiming gold in the men’s 10,000m.

He did so in impressive fashion, timing his attack to perfection and striking from 600 metres out before going on to charge through the line in 26:43.14, breaking the Olympic record set 16 years ago by Kenenisa Bekele, the man Cheptegei had succeeded as world record-holder over the distance.

It was a thrilling race in the Stade de France, one which the Ethiopian trio of Berihu Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega, the defending champion, tried their best to dictate. Ultimately, though, they had to settle for just one medal in the form of Aregawi’s silver while USA’s Grant Fisher claimed bronze.

Jimmy Gressier, much to the delight of the home fans, led for the first two laps, but Barega then moved to the front and led through 1000m in 2:43.1 with the field already somewhat strung out.

Barega’s teammate Kejelcha strode to the front one lap later and Aregawi slotted into third, creating an Ethiopian 1-2-3 formation. At 2000m, reached in 5:22.7, they were comfortably on course to break Bekele’s Olympic record. At this point, Cheptegei was near the back of the lead pack, while his teammate Jacob Kiplimo, the Commonwealth champion, was in the middle.

Barega – moving with intent as though it was part of a premeditated plan – returned to the lead at 3000m, reached in 8:02.00, putting them on course to finish inside 26:50. Fisher was in fourth, just ahead of Kiplimo and Gressier.

Kejelcha and Aregawi both took turns in the lead in the next two kilometres with half way being reached in 13:23.2. Aregawi led at that point from Kejelcha, Fisher and Kenya’s Benard Kibet. The top 20 men were operating inside Olympic record pace; Cheptegei, sitting in 15th, did not care for records, though.

With 10 laps to go, Kejelcha tried to make another break, but Canada’s Moh Ahmed covered it, as Kibet and South Africa’s Adriaan Wildschutt also moved up through the pack.

With 21 minutes on the clock, Cheptegei made his presence known. He didn’t go right to the front, but moved near enough so as to let his opponents know that he was a threat. Following a slightly slower kilometre of 2:48, the field had bunched up slightly with 8000m being reached in 21:33.5.

Aregawi went back into the lead after 23 minutes with Ahmed, Kejelcha and Fisher still near the front of the pack. With two laps to go, twelve men remained in contention in the lead group.

Cheptegei, his motivation clear with every stride, hit the front with less than 600 metres to go and started to wind up the pace. Aregawi, Ahmed, Fisher, Kejelcha and Kiplimo all tried their best to cover his move. As the finishing speed moved up another notch in the final 400 metres, eight men were still in contention.

The Ugandan was away and clear with Fisher a few strides behind. Aregawi came sprinting down the home straight and caught Fisher in the closing stages to claim silver. There was no catching Cheptegei, though, as he crossed the line in an Olympic record of 26:43.14.

“I can’t describe the feeling,” said Cheptegei. “I’ve wanted this for a long time. When I took silver in Tokyo, I was disappointed. I wanted just to win the 10,000m.

“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. I said, one day, one time, I want to be Olympic champion.”

Aregawi claimed silver in 26:43.44 and Fisher finished 0.02 behind. Ahmed was fourth (26:43.79) and Kibet was rewarded with a PB of 26:43.98 in fifth. Kejelcha, Barega and Kiplimo rounded out the top eight.

The first 13 men finished inside the previous Olympic record. Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo (26:49.49), South Africa’s Wildschutt (26:50.64) and France’s Gressier (26:58.67) all set national records.

(World Athletics)