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Kipyegon had seen her silver medal originally snatched from her after initially being judged to have obstructed Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay.
Faith Kipyegon has had her silver medal reinstated after a successful appeal by the Kenyan team officials at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The appeal was led by a formidable team comprising Milka Chemos, Bernard Ouma, and Team Manager Peter Angwenyi.
The incident
The incident in question occurred during the intense final of the women’s 5000 meters. Kipyegon, known for her tactical brilliance and competitive spirit, found herself in a challenging position when Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay attempted to box her in during the closing laps. Frustrated by the aggressive tactics, Kipyegon raised her arm in protest but quickly refocused on the race.
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23:30 - 05.08.2024
Explained: Why Faith Kipyegon was disqualified despite finishing second in Paris Olympics 5000m final
Faith Kipyegon experienced a brutal end to her Paris 2024 Olympics 5,000m campaign after her silver medal win was quashed.
In a thrilling finish, Kipyegon took the lead and seemed poised to clinch the gold medal. However, her compatriot Beatrice Chebet, the double world cross-country champion, made a late surge in the final 60 meters to overtake Kipyegon and secure her first Olympic title. Chebet clocked a winning time of 14:28.56, with Kipyegon crossing the line in second.
However, what was meant to be a moment of pride for Kipyegon soon turned into despair. The race referees disqualified her for violating Rule TR17.2.2 (163.2(b)), which pertains to jostling or obstruction.
This rule stipulates that any athlete who jostles, pushes, or obstructs another competitor during a race can be disqualified. As a result, Kipyegon was initially stripped of her silver medal, with Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan being elevated to second place and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti awarded the bronze.
The Appeal
The Kenyan team officials, however, were determined to fight the disqualification. They swiftly filed an appeal, arguing that the contact between Kipyegon and Tsegay was incidental and did not warrant such a harsh penalty.
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23:00 - 05.08.2024
Beatrice Chebet wins Kenya's first gold medal at Paris Olympics as Faith Kipyegon is disqualified
Beatrice Chebet won Kenya's first gold medal at the Paris Olympics after a great victory past favourite Faith Kipyegon with the world champion losing silver over a track offence.
The appeal was carefully prepared and presented, with the officials providing compelling evidence and arguments to support Kipyegon's case.
After a thorough review of the incident, the appeal panel agreed with the Kenyan team’s assessment. The panel concluded that the disqualification was not justified and that the contact was part of the natural dynamics of a highly competitive race. As a result, Kipyegon's silver medal was reinstated.
Kipyegon will now be focusing on completing a hat-trick of 1500m gold medals at the Olympic stage, as she will be taking part in the semi-finals on Thursday night.
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