Editor’s note: This story was updated to reflect the fact that following an appeal, Faith Kipyegon was reinstated as the silver medalist in the women’s 5,000 meters. She also advanced to the final of the 1500 meters by winning her semifinal heat on August 8. The final will be on August 10.
The 5,000 meters isn’t usually the most physical race on the track. But on Monday, a dramatic series of shoves turned into a chaotic sequence of events as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, 30, first appeared to win silver, then was disqualified, and finally was reinstated on appeal.
The questionable exchange happened about 12 and a half minutes into the race—a little before 4,200 meters, with a bit more than two laps to go. Kipyegon was in the lead, close to the rail.
World record-holder Gudaf Tsegay, 27, of Ethiopia tried to cut over from the outside. Kipyegon shoved her a bit, as if to let her know there was a shortage of real estate. Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, 24—the eventual winner, who was just behind Kipyegon at the time—appeared to exchange words as Chebet stepped to the outside.
Tsegay, grimacing, briefly forged ahead and held the lead before Kipyegon and Chebet swung around to pass her again. The two Kenyan teammates then battled over the bell lap, with Kipyegon leading until Chebet surged ahead in the home stretch, finishing in 14:28.56 for gold.
Kipyegon crossed the line in 14:29.60, and a hard-charging Sifan Hassan, 31, of the Netherlands was third in 14:30.61 (she’ll also be competing in the 10,000 meters and the marathon). But when the official results were first released, Kipyegon was disqualified with a code of TR17.1.2[O], which indicates a World Athletics rule against obstruction.
The shocking turn of events temporarily upgraded Hassan to silver and Nadia Battocletti, 24, of Italy, to bronze (she ran 14:31.64, a new national record). But not long afterward, the disqualification was overturned on appeal, returning the silver to Kipyegon, downgrading Hassan to bronze, and leaving Battocletti off the podium.
The official communication, from the Olympic Jury of Appeal, noted that while there was contact between the two athletes, it didn’t warrant disqualification. However, they noted, “jostling of this nature is never acceptable.” Kipyegon receives a disciplinary yellow card that will carry through the Games.
At the press conference afterward, Hassan said she didn’t mind the switch back to bronze—in fact, she expected it, and that Kipyegon deserved silver.
“It really doesn’t matter. I already knew she was going to protest,” she said of Kipyegon, adding that both she and Chebet have been “phenomenal” this year. “I’m really happy with my bronze medal; I love it.”
All three Americans reached the 5,000 meter final, but weren’t factors in the race or affected by the squabble. Karissa Schweizer, 28, placed 10th in 14:45.57; Elise Cranny, also 28, was just behind her in 11th in 14:48.06; and Whittni Morgan, 26, was 14th in a personal best of 14:53.57.
“I do not understand this. In my opinion, watching this, Tsegay is the one who tries to cut over without room,” commentator Kara Goucher said on NBC after the race, but before the final decision was announced.
world record holder world record holder and reigning Olympic champion in the 1500 meters, will have another chance to go for gold: She’ll race again in that event tomorrow morning. Chebet will also compete again, in the 10,000 meters on Friday.
—Published: Aug 05, 2024 4:56 PM EDT.
Cindy is a freelance health and fitness writer, author, and podcaster who’s contributed regularly to Runner’s World since 2013. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, a book about the psychology of sports injury from Bloomsbury Sport. Cindy specializes in covering injury prevention and recovery, everyday athletes accomplishing extraordinary things, and the active community in her beloved Chicago, where winter forges deep bonds between those brave enough to train through it.
