August 09, (THEWILL) – Kenyan runner Beatrice Chebet claimed her second gold medal of the 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, winning the women’s 10,000 metres event. The 24-year-old completed the race in 30 minutes 43.25 seconds, adding to her earlier victory in the 5,000 metres competition.
In a closely contested finish, Italian Nadia Battocletti secured the silver medal with a time of 30:43.35, just a fraction of a second behind Chebet. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, who won gold in this event at the Tokyo Olympics, took bronze with a time of 30:44.12.
Chebet, the current world record holder, played a significant role in setting the pace throughout the race. The decisive moment came in the final lap when she accelerated on the last turn, breaking away from the pack to cross the finish line first. This victory marks Kenya’s first-ever gold medal in the women’s 10,000 metres Olympic event.
For Battocletti, the silver medal represents a positive outcome following her experience in the 5,000 metres race. She initially finished third in that event but lost her bronze medal when Kenyan Faith Kipyegon’s disqualification was overturned. The Italian runner’s performance in the 10,000 metres ensured her place on the Olympic podium.
The women’s 10,000 metres final provided an exciting conclusion to the track events at the 2024 Olympic Games. Chebet’s double gold medal success cements her status as one of the top distance runners in the world, while Battocletti and Hassan’s medals reflect the competitive nature of long-distance running at the Olympic level.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
