Cheptegi wins gold, setting Olympic record in men's 10k

Joshua Cheptegi poses with his new Olympic record in the men's 10,000 meter final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. 

Joshua Cheptegi, the 2023 world champion and world record holder turned gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics Friday night. His time of 26:43.14 in the men’s 10,000-meter final was an Olympic record at Stade de France. The Ugandan blew away the best list of runners assembled, with himself a former event medalist. Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia narrowly took the silver medal away from American Grant Fisher, who won the bronze. Defending Olympic champion Selemon Barega finished in seventh denied a repeat at gold. 

The defending medalists were back for another shot at becoming back-to-back champions for the first time since Mo Farah in 2012 and 2016. Only five men have accomplished back-to-back gold medals in Olympic history, with a good chance at it happening for the sixth time. 

The pace was above normal nearing the halfway point of the race, where two of three from Ethiopia were leading. Barega rejoined his teammates after dropping back to the middle of the pack. With ten laps to go and 6,000 meters in, Barega led the group, with American Grant Fisher still in the top four. Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed moved into second before the 7,000-meter mark, trying to put himself in a lock for a medal. 

The Kenyas and Ugandans sat behind the leaders, waiting for the right moment to move in and steal the spot when it counted. 13 runners in the front pack came to the mark with 2,000 meters to go and Aregawi back in front with Ahmed behind him. At the last lap, Cheptegi moved into the lead with Ahmed tailing him. Fisher moved into second and at the line it was Cheptegi winning gold. Ahmed missed the medal by 33 hundredths of a second, leaving him devastated to wait again.