It was a master class in team tactics by the Ethiopians, who drove the pace relentlessly from the gun, but ultimately it was world record holder and three-time world champion Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda who proved he is still the best in the world in the men’s 10,000m at the Paris 2024 Olympics on Friday, winning the gold medal in 26:43.14, an Olympic record. Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia, who had never medalled at a major Games, took silver, in 26:43.44, and Grant Fisher of Team USA took bronze, in 26:43.46. After spending much of the latter part of the race in second position, Canada’s Moh Ahmed had to settle for a heartbreaking fourth-place finish, crossing the line in 26:43.79, only nine seconds off his Canadian record and a third of a second off the podium.
“I didn’t want a repeat of Tokyo… I covered the move, and I ran as well as I could,” Ahmed told Canadian Running after the race. “I covered every single move, and I felt really good. Every time I commanded my body to move, it responded really well. I knew this race was going to be really, really tough, because it had eight of the top 14 all-time or something… so many 26:30 dudes, and I was one of those dudes… I think I executed that race really well. I just didn’t have anything left in the last 50.
“I usually have a good last 100… I said to myself, just go to the finish, and I did, and I had nothing left.”
The 10,000m king 👑
🥇 at @Paris2024
🥈 at @Tokyo2020
3️⃣ #WorldAthleticsChamps 🥇26:11.00 world record ⏱️
26:43.14 Olympic record ⏱️Take a bow for @joshuacheptege1 👏#Paris2024 pic.twitter.com/9RC7trHxX1
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 2, 2024
Ahmed expressed admiration for Fisher, who was his training partner at Bowerman Track Club until a few months ago. “He got it,” Ahmed said. I’m really happy for him. This is what he’s been working for for a long time.”
In late June, Ahmed won the Canadian men’s 5,000m title in a championship record time of 13:10.99.
Ethiopian team tactics
Cheptegei bided his time in the middle of the pack until 21 minutes in, as Ethiopians Aregawi, Yomif Kejelcha and defending Olympic champion Selemon Barega took off, trading the lead position numerous times over the ensuing laps, with slight changes of position among the runners behind them. With two laps to go, Cheptegei surged, and the race turned into a desperate 400m sprint. Kejelcha ultimately finished sixth, in 26:44.02, and Barega seventh, in 26:44.48. Cheptegei’s teammate, Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Jacob Kiplimo, finished eighth, in 26:46.39.
Moh Ahmed dazzles in Canadian 5,000m final with championship record
Ahmed also settled into a comfortable position in the middle of the pack early on, but moved steadily up; with 14 laps to go, Ahmed was in fifth; the leaders went through 5K in a spicy 13:23. Meanwhile, French runner Yann Schrub collapsed on the track and received medical attention.
Ahmed will race the 5,000m next; round one is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 7.
_____________________________________________________________________
Athletics events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games are taking place from Aug. 1-11. Today’s coverage is brought to you by Canadian Running and New Balance Canada. Follow us on Twitter on Instagram for all things Team Canada and up-to-date exclusive news and content.
