Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet produced a masterful display of tactical running to win gold in the Olympic women’s 5000m on Monday, ending defending champion Sifan Hassan’s dream of a long-distance treble.
Chebet – nicknamed the “smiling killer” – bided her time before speeding ahead of compatriot Faith Kipyegon down the home straight to win gold in 14min 28.56sec at the Stade de France.
Kipyegon, the reigning world 5000m champion, was initially disqualified from the silver medal for allegedly shoving Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegaye with two laps to go.
However, she was later reinstated after being recalled by Kenyan officials.
Following that appeal, Holland’s Hassan moved back from silver to bronze after finishing in 14:30.61.
Hassan, 31, was aiming to become the first woman in history to win 5,000m, 10,000m and marathon gold at the same Olympics, emulating the feat achieved by men’s distance great Emile Zatopek at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
However, after deploying her favorite tactic of staying at the back for most of the race, Hassan was unable to match the pace of Kenyans Chebet and Kipyegon in the closing stages of a thrilling race.
Kipyegon narrowly avoided Chebet on the home straight but was unable to react as her compatriot found the extra gear and swept past her.
“I knew Faith was very strong, so I had to go hard from the 400m,” Chebet said afterwards. “When she pushed, I thought, ‘Let me go after her and see if I can secure second place.’ If I followed Faith, I thought I would get silver.
“Then with 400 meters to go I felt strong so I pushed and then kicked again with 300 meters to go. Luckily I was able to win.”
Chebet’s victory was the latest milestone in a dazzling season for the 24-year-old Kenyan, who set a world record in the 10,000 meters in Eugene, Ore., in May. Chebet will now aim to claim Hassan’s Olympic 10,000m crown when the race is held on Friday
