Paris 2024: Ethiopians stunned as Joshua Cheptegei makes history after shattering Olympic record to claim 10,000m gold

Joshua Cheptegei has become the greatest Ugandan Olympian ever after a remarkable run in the Paris 2024 Olympics to claim gold in the 10,000m.

The Ethiopian runners, led by Olympic champion Selemon Barega, Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi, started quickly with Barega taking off in the second lap. They would exchange leads in a bid to burn out their rivals.

However, their plan did not succeed when it mattered most as Cheptegei unleashed a great finishing kick to claim the Olympic gold. 

The Ugandan had stayed close to the Ethiopian trio and took off in the final 400m to win the race in a new Olympic record of 26:43.14.

Aregawi was the best-placed Ethiopian in second place after clocking 26.43.44. He had to do it the hard way after sprinting to the finish line in the final 100m.

American Grant Fisher completed the podium in 26.43.46 to the disappointment of Kejelcha and Barega, who could only manage sixth and seventh places respectively.

Bernard Kibet was the best-placed Kenyan in fifth place as Daniel Mateiko (11th) and Nicholas Kipkorir (14th) faded off.

It was a fast race that had seen the Ethiopians split the field, but they ended up on the losing end after spending most of their energy in the early stages of the race.

With this gold medal, Joshua Cheptegei has now won more Olympic medals than any other Ugandan athlete in history. 

He adds this to his silver in the 5,000m at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and his 10,000m gold in the same Games.