Faith Kipyegon’s Silver Medal Drama at the Paris Olympics

In a surprising twist of events at the Paris Olympics, Faith Kipyegon found herself at the center of a moment that initially cost her a silver medal in the women’s 5,000 meters.

With just over 800 meters left in the race, Kipyegon inadvertently made contact with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, which caused Tsegay to stumble. The officials deemed this an act of obstruction, leading to Kipyegon’s disqualification.

As the race continued, Kipyegon fought hard against her fellow Kenyan, Beatrice Chebet, who eventually won the gold medal with a time of 14:28.56, while Kipyegon crossed the finish line for what was initially ruled as a second-place finish.

However, the drama didn’t end there. Thanks to an appeal by the Kenyan Federation, Kipyegon’s silver medal was restored. The appealing process turned the results upside down, pushing the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan to third place and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti to fourth.

In the final standings, Kipyegon was reinstated with her silver, Hassan held onto her bronze finish, and Tsegay came in eighth. While Tsegay is known for holding the 5,000 meters world record, her performance on Monday didn’t reflect her usual standards.

Hassan, eyeing an incredible Olympic triple, showcased her talent as she closed in rapidly during the last lap. In a noteworthy performance, Battocletti recorded a new Italian national record.

Kipyegon, who is also a world record-holder in the 1,500 meters and mile, was previously the record holder for the 5K until Chebet surpassed her. Meanwhile, American runners Karissa Schweizer and Elise Cranny finished in ninth and tenth places, respectively.