The world champion Brimin Kiprop Kipruto held off a surprise French challenge to win the Olympic men's 3000m steeplechase today and retain Kenya's 24-year iron grip on the event.
The unheralded Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad nearly spoiled the Kenyan party with a rip-roaring last lap but 23-year-old Kipruto held off his charge to win in 8 minutes 10.34 seconds.
"It was really nice, but it wasn't easy for me to win, I had to try my best," Kipruto told reporters. "When I crossed the line, I could see my friends. I was so happy."
Reims-born Mekhissi-Benabbad did manage to outsprint Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong after the final jump to claim silver in a personal best 8.10.49 and the Kenyan had to be content with bronze in 8.11.01.
"Since the beginning of the year I wanted to be the Olympic champion," Mekhissi-Benabbad said. "My strategy was to be at the front and wait for the last lap before attacking."
Mateelong and Kipruto said they had never seen the Frenchman before.
"I must say it was a good race, I was strong," Mateelong added. "I couldn't predict who would win the race. I'm happy to be the bronze medallist but it's unfortunate (Kipruto) got away."
Defending champion Ezekiel Kemboi, who beat Kipruto to gold in a Kenyan podium sweep four years ago in Athens, had a disappointing evening and finished seventh.
The early pace of the race was slow with the Kenyans happy to let other runners lead the way and bide their time in the pack.
American Anthony Famiglietti tried to up it with four laps to go but nobody else responded and the race seemed set for a quick last few laps.
It was not until just after the bell, though, that Mateelong and Kemboi finally hit the front with Kipruto seemingly boxed in.
The rangy Mekhissi-Benabbad made his presence felt after the jump on the back straight and showed he would not be bossed around by the Kenyans.
"I have been studying all my races and also my opponents, I've seen the videos from Athens and Osaka," said the 23-year-old, who failed to reach the final at the world championships in Osaka last year. "I have studied the three Kenyans in particular."
Kemboi had faded by now and it was a straight race between the three medallists, Kipruto surging to the line after he cleared the final jump.
Such has been the Kenyan dominance of this event, Mekhissi-Benabbad is the first non-Kenyan to win a silver medal let alone a gold since his compatriot Joseph Mahmoud finished second in Los Angeles in 1984.
"I wanted to hear the French national anthem tonight in the stadium. I'll wait for the next time," he said.
The last non-Kenyan to win the event was Pole Bronislaw Malinowski at the 1980 Moscow Games, which the Kenyans boycotted.
* Reuters
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At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
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