- The double Olympics and world 1500m champion had been disqualified for obstructing Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
- She, however, got her medal back upon team Kenya’s appeal, giving Kenya the top two finishes in a race that had some of the world’s strongest runners.
Image: Team Kenya
Team Kenya breathed a sigh of relief after Faith Kipyegon’s silver medal was re-instated in the women’s 5000m race following a dramatic Monday night at the Paris 2024 Olympic games
The double Olympics and world 1500m champion had been disqualified for allegedly obstructing Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
She, however, got her medal back upon team Kenya’s appeal, giving Kenya the top two finishes in a race that had some of the world’s strongest runners.
Debutant Beatrice Chebet won gold in 14 minutes 28.56, and Kipyegon finished second in 14 minutes 29.60 seconds as the Netherlands' Sifan Hassan managed (14:30.61) to claim bronze.
How the event unfolded
When Chebet and Kipyegon were celebrating, in a twist of events, Kipyegon learned that she had been disqualified for obstructing Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
While this sent a shock to the whole world watching, Kenyans were hit harder by the news.
During the race, Kipyegon outstretched her right arm, making contact with Ethiopia's Tsegay with a little more than 800 meters left to go, creating a reaction that unbalanced her competitor.
Tsegay shoved even more, while Kipyegon tried to keep her balance to avoid running off the track, at high speed, with medals and pride on the line.
Most Kenyans were angry and vented on social media claiming they were robbed of the medal.
However, Kenya's team officials led by Team Manager Peter Angwenyi successfully appealed and won her case.
“I am so sad for Faith, and I hope justice will be done,” Chebet said as she spoke with reporters.
“Faith did not do anything bad. I think she will get the medal in the end."
Chebet’s prediction came true at 11:16 pm when reporters were alerted to Kipyegon’s reinstatement.
The official ruling was obstruction for the infraction, but Faith was later absolved from any wrongdoing.
In a ruling, the Jury said it had reviewed all available evidence and agreed there was significant contact between, and by the two athletes.
The Jury of Appeal stated that the incident did not warrant a disqualification hence the decision to award Kipyegon the silver medal.
"Congratulations to Faith Kipyegon, her silver medal has been reinstated," Athletics Kenya said on social media platform X.
Kipyegon did not speak with reporters; as the unfolding drama didn’t allow her enough time to begin a real post-race recovery, and she still has to defend her Olympic title in the 1,500.
Chebet and Hassan together handled the news conference, with Hassan now a bronze medal winner instead of silver and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti who had moved into the medal bracket after Faith’s disqualification missing the podium finish.
Ethiopa’s Tsegay finished a distance finished 9th.
“I’m really happy that Faith got her medal back,” the bronze medalist said.
Long after the race, Kipyegon needed to be consoled as she walked through a battery of reporters.
This meant team Kenya managed three medals on the night after Mary Moraa grabbed bronze in the women’s 800m race.
Kenyans still have Faith in Kipeygon in the 1500m round one race set for 11.20 am, with all eyes on the Stade de France in Paris, France