Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet produced a masterful display of tactical running to win gold in the Olympic women’s 5,000m on Monday, ending defending champion Sifan Hassan’s dream of a long-distance triple crown. Chebet – nicknamed “the smiling assassin” – waited before accelerating compatriot Faith Kipyegon in the final straight to take gold in 14min 28.56sec at the Stade de France. Kipyegon, the reigning 5,000m world champion, was initially disqualified from the silver medal position for an alleged shove on Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay with two laps to go.
However, she was later reinstated following an appeal by Kenyan authorities.
Following this appeal, Dutchwoman Hassan fell from silver to bronze after finishing with a time of 14:30.61.
Hassan, 31, aimed to become the first woman in history to win gold in the 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon at the same Olympics, emulating the feat achieved by the great male long-distance runner Emile Zatopek at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
But after using his preferred tactic of staying at the back for most of the race, Hassan was unable to match the pace of Kenyans Chebet and Kipyegon in the closing stages of a thrilling race.
Kipyegon passed Chebet on the final straight but was unable to respond when his compatriot found an extra gear and passed her.
“I knew Faith is very strong, so I had to go strong from the 400 meters onwards,” Chebet said afterwards. “When she pushed, I thought, ‘Let me follow her and see if I can secure second place.’ If I followed Faith, I thought she would get silver.
“Then, with 400 meters to go, I felt strong, so I pushed and kicked again at 300 meters. Luckily I managed to win.”
Chebet’s victory was the latest milestone in a stunning season for the 24-year-old Kenyan, who set a world record in the 10,000m in Eugene, Oregon, in May.
Chebet will now attempt to take Hassan’s Olympic 10,000m crown when the race takes place on Friday.
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