Joshua Cheptegei won the 10,000-metre event at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In doing he is the first since Kenenisa Bekele to concurrently hold the world record and the Olympic and World Championships titles.

The Ethiopian contenders pushed the pace early. Cheptegei bided his time before hitting the front with 500m to go, controlling the race for the win.

As others challenged, the reigning Olympic 5000m champion held firm. Inspired by the desire to take a maiden Olympic title in the event he has always described as the “special distance”.

Cheptegei paid tribute to all those who made it possible, saying, “I am so excited. It took a lot of courage. It’s really amazing, this one was still missing. Three times world champion, now I can add the Olympic title to this. This one is for my family. Success is not only for me but for my family, my coach, my management. The whole team around me. I couldn’t have done it without them.”

Finishing in second place was Berihu Aregawi from Ethiopia in 26:43.14. Taking third was American Grant Fisher in 26:43.46.

What makes the performance all the more impressive is it comes after perhaps the hardest year of Cheptegei’s career. He was yet to win over any distance after completing the Valencia marathon in December 2023.

In making up for his Tokyo 2021 silver over the same distance it is Uganda’s fifth-ever Olympics gold medal. Adding to his Tokyo 5000m triumph. This certainly proves his long-held belief that Ugandans need not leave their homeland to compete with the planet’s finest.

Cheptegei has for many years trained in his native Kapchorwa, even building a training centre to inspire the next generation of Ugandan athletes. No greater legacy will come than nights like this in the Stade de France.

Cheptegei’s Olympic record led three national records with Thierry Ndikumwenayo of Spain clocking 26:49.49 taking ninth. Adriaan Wildschutt from South Africa set that country’s record at 26:50.64. Jim Gressier from France set the French record in 26:58.67.

Results

POSAthleteNatResult
1Joshua CHEPTEGEIUGA26:43.14 OR
2Berihu AREGAWIETH26:43.44
3Grant FISHERUSA26:43.46 SB
4Mohammed AHMEDCAN26:43.79 SB
5Benard KIBETKEN26:43.98 PB
6Yomif KEJELCHAETH26:44.02
7Selemon BAREGAETH26:44.48
8Jacob KIPLIMOUGA26:46.39 SB
9Thierry NDIKUMWENAYOESP26:49.49 NR
10Adriaan WILDSCHUTTRSA26:50.64 NR
11Daniel MATEIKOKEN26:50.83
12Nico YOUNGUSA26:58.11
13Jimmy GRESSIERFRA26:58.67 NR
14Nicholas KIPKORIRKEN27:23.97
15Merhawi MEBRAHTUERI27:24.25
16William KINCAIDUSA27:29.40
17Birhanu BALEWBRN27:30.94 SB
18Jamal Abdelmaji EISA MOHAMMEDEOR27:35.92 PB
19Isaac KIMELIBEL27:51.52
20Jun KASAIJPN27:53.18
21Yves NIMUBONARWA27:54.12 PB
22Martin Magengo KIPROTICHUGA28:20.72 PB
23Abdessamad OUKHELFENESP28:21.90
24Tomoki OTAJPN29:12.48