By AFP

Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei emerged victorious in the men’s Olympic 10,000m at the Stade de France on Friday, overcoming a formidable challenge from the Ethiopian team.

The race was intense from the start, with the defending champion Selemon Barega and Ethiopian teammate Yomif Kejelcha initiating the first surge just two laps into the 25-lap race. Their acceleration splintered the 25-strong field, though all runners managed to stay in contention.

Cheptegei, a three-time world champion and the world record holder, clocked an Olympic record of 26:43.14 to clinch the gold medal. This remarkable feat surpassed the previous best of 27:07.17, set by Ethiopian legend Kenenisa Bekele at the 2008 Beijing Games. Despite early setbacks, including teammate Martin Magengo Kiprotich falling off the pace, Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo managed to stay in the race.

Throughout the race, the Ethiopian trio of Barega, Kejelcha, and Berihu Aregawi dictated the pace. Aregawi made his move after Kejelcha, setting a blistering rhythm that whittled the main pack down to 15 by the halfway mark. The competition intensified as the pack of 12 held on tightly into the last kilometer, with Aregawi leading the charge.

In the final stages, just before the bell rang for the last 400 meters, Cheptegei surged to the front, setting the stage for a thrilling finish. Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and American Grant Fisher followed, with Fisher recovering from falling off the pace to secure a remarkable bronze medal. Fisher’s time of 26:43.44 earned him the first U.S. medal in the 10,000m since 1968, narrowly edging out Aregawi for the silver by two-hundredths of a second.

Barega, unable to maintain his early momentum, finished seventh in 26:44.48, one spot behind Kejelcha. Ahmed took fourth place, while Kenya’s Benard Kibet finished fifth.