History was made at the Stade de France in Paris on Friday as Ugandan athlete Joshua Cheptegei clinched his first-ever men’s 10,000m Olympic gold medal, cementing his status as one of the greatest long-distance runners of all time.
In a thrilling finale, Cheptegei, a three-time world champion and world record holder, outran Ethiopian defending champion Selemon Barega, crossing the finish line in an Olympic record time of 26 minutes and 43.14 seconds. This shattered the previous record set by Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele at the 2008 Beijing Games.
A electrifying atmosphere filled the stadium as over 75,000 spectators watched Cheptegei battle it out with Barega and Ethiopian teammate Yomif Kejelcha, who dominated the early stages of the race. However, Cheptegei’s tactical prowess and sheer determination saw him surge to the front in the final kilometer, leaving the competition in his wake.
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed silver, edging out American Grant Fisher by a mere two-hundredths of a second. Fisher’s bronze medal marked the United States’ first podium finish in the 10,000m since 1968.
Cheptegei’s victory was a testament to his unwavering dedication and talent, solidifying his position as one of the all-time greats in Ugandan athletics.
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