Faith Kipyegon’s joy, tears and laughter again
Kenyans Beatrice Chebet (Gold), Faith Kipyegon (Silver) and the Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan (Bronze). Team Kenya photo
In a thrilling twist at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon, a renowned Kenyan middle and long distance runner, celebrated for a few minutes after completing the 5,000-metre race behind Beatrice Chebet.
Kipyegon’s joy of a hard-fought silver medal in the women’s 5000m final would turn into a disappointment when she was disqualified for obstruction.
However, justice prevailed as her medal was later reinstated after a successful appeal by Team Kenya.
Let’s delve into the dramatic saga that unfolded on the track.
On Monday night at Stade de France, Kipyegon battled alongside reigning champion Sifan Hassan from The Netherlands for Olympic gold in the women’s 5000m race.
Her teammate - Chebet - clinched the gold medal, while Kipyegon secured silver. But less than an hour after the race, the news shattered her dreams: she was disqualified for obstruction.
The ruling pushed Hassan up to clinch silver and placed Italy’s Nadia Battocletti on the podium for bronze medal.
Kipyegon’s disqualification centered around an intense moment during the race. Near the front of the pack, she made contact with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay—a rare show of physicality on the track. A crew from the American National Broadcasting Company (NBC) expressed shock, and Tsegay quickly faded from contention, finishing ninth.
The question loomed: Was Kipyegon truly at fault?
Under Rule TR17.2.2 (163.2 (b) of the Olympic Games, jostling or obstruction is prohibited. This rule states that any athlete who jostles, pushes, or obstructs another athlete during a race may be disqualified by the referee based on an umpire’s report.
Following the disqualification, Kenya promptly filed an appeal, arguing that Kipyegon did not initiate the contact. NBC pointed out that it was Tsegay who appeared to make the first move, brushing against Kipyegon’s arm twice.
Kipyegon, dangerously close to running out of room on the inside of the track, found herself caught in the middle of the high-stakes race. Both runners expressed frustration, but it was Tsegay who fell back in the pack.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) reviewed the appeal and agreed that Kipyegon was not to blame. Her silver medal was reinstated, much to the relief of her teammate Chebet, who had hoped for justice. Now, Kenya celebrates two hard-earned medals in the crowded 5000m final.
Kipyegon’s journey—from elation to disqualification and eventual reinstatement—epitomizes the drama and unpredictability of the Olympic competition.
Now she has silver medal and with shear resilience and determination, the two times Olympic Champion who was later on in Heat 2, qualified for the 1500m race semifinal.
