Cheptegei Breaks Olympic 10,000m Record, U.S. Secures Podium Spot After 12 Years
PARIS — Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda shattered the Olympic 10,000-meter record on Friday night, capturing gold and setting a new benchmark in the process. Cheptegei, who held the world record in this event, outpaced the previous Olympic record set by Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele at the 2008 Beijing Games by more than 18 seconds.
The 27-year-old Cheptegei, who has long admired Bekele—an illustrious four-time Olympic medallist—expressed profound emotion after his victory. “Barely 16 years ago when I was watching the great Kenenisa Bekele win in Beijing, it was something that grew in my heart,” Cheptegei remarked. “I said, one day, one time, I want to be Olympic champion.”
Cheptegei, who set the world record of 26:11 in 2020, had been determined to secure the gold medal he narrowly missed in Tokyo. Reflecting on his triumph, he said, “I can’t describe the feeling. I’ve wanted this for a long time.”
In a message to aspiring athletes, Cheptegei encouraged young people in Uganda: “The young boys are watching in Uganda. You can achieve it, believe in yourself because when you don’t believe in yourself, you can’t make it in life.”
Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi finished with the silver medal, clocking a time of 26:43.44. Remarkably, all 13 top finishers surpassed the previous Olympic record, underscoring the high caliber of competition.
The United States also celebrated a significant achievement, with Grant Fisher earning bronze in a seasonal best of 26:43.46. This marks the first time an American has medaled in the 10,000-meter event since Galen Rupp’s silver in London in 2012. Historically, the 10,000-meter race has not been a strong suit for American athletes. The only other American medallists in this event are Lewis Tewanima, who won silver in 1912, and Billy Mills, who secured gold in 1964.