Paris 2024: How controversy almost ruined Chebet's golden moment in Paris

Kenya's Beatrice Chebet (gold) and Faith Kipyegon (silver) pose for a photo after the Women's 5000m Final at Stade de France on August 5. Netherland's Sifan Hassan won bronze. [AFP]

Faith Kipyegon’s silver medal triumph in her Olympic debut over the 5000m final race looked like a well choreographed movie in a frenzied atmosphere at the Stade de France, Paris on Monday night.

From the dramatic finish to being disqualified for an apparent obstruction and her medal reinstated after a successful appeal by the Kenyan officials, the 2024 Paris Olympic Games will definitely be a competition to remember for the multiple world record holder.

The unexpected events almost overshadowed indefatigable Beatrice Chebet’s alias ‘the Smiling Assassin’ remarkable gold victory on her first appearance at the Games.

This was Kenya’s first medal at the event before Mary Moraa bagged bronze in the 800m finals the same night after clocking 1:57.42 behind Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia.

With a number of world’s top distance runners including world champion over the distance Kipyegon, two time world medallist Beatrice Chebet, defending champion Sifan Hassan, Tokyo bronze medallist Gudaf Tsegay and European champion Nadia Battocletti in the mix, the race was billed as one of the most anticipated showdowns in the French capital.

Having already won two Olympic gold in her 1500m speciality, Kipyegon was determined to rewrite history in the Games by clinching gold in the star-studded 5000m final.

Everything seemed to go on as per her script in what appeared to be a tactical race involving Kipyegon and her Kenyan compatriots Chebet and Margaret Chelimo.

However, the unexpected happened with two laps to go as Kipyegon clashed with Ethiopian world record holder Gudaf Tsegay before Chebet outsprinted her with 40m to go.

Chebet claimed Kenya’s first gold in Paris with a time of 14:28.56 ahead of Kipyegon in 14:29.60 and Hassan in 14:30.61.

But what followed left Kipyegon in tears, the stadium stunned and Kenyans all over the world heartbroken.

Eventual champion Beatrice Chebet and bronze medallist Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands were equally visibly shocked by the news on Kipyegon’s disqualification during their post-race interviews.

This was just a few moments after Kipyegon had hugged and cheered with Chebet at the end of the race.

A tearful Kipyegon couldn’t hold back tears as she passed by the mixed zone trying to come to term with the news she had lost her silver.

Though excited to win her maiden gold medal, Chebet, 24, took a swipe at Tsegay for her ‘dirty’ tricks. Tsegay finished a distant ninth in 14:45.21.

“I’m so happy because this is my fast track and field gold medal on Olympic debut. Having won a silver, bronze and now gold at a big stage I feel I’m progressing well,” Chebet told Standard Sports.

“The race was good but very competitive as expected. Having Faith, Sifan, Gudaf and Chelimo in the same race is no joke. It was just a matter of determination,  focus and patience.” She continued: “In regards to the clashes, I saw Gudaf try to push Faith who tried to prevent herself from stepping outside the track.”

Reflecting on how she managed to spoil the party for the pre-race favourite Kipyegon on the final stretch, Chebet said: “When Faith started to push,  I told myself let me follow her because I knew she will pull me and help me secure a second spot, and open some gap on others.

“When I reached 100m I saw I still have some energy and gave it a try. But the most important thing is that I had already secured a safe position.”

Sifan was delighted to see the controversial ruling reversed and Kipyegon get her medal back.

“I don’t really feel like I really deserved the silver, I don’t wish for medals I did not win,” said Sifan.

“I love my bronze medal, it doesn’t matter to me what medal I get or position I finish as long as there is fairness.”