Paris 2024 Olympics: Breakdown of Faith Kipyegon's 'crazy' 24 hours after rollercoaster 5000m final

Paris 2024 Olympics: Breakdown of Faith Kipyegon's 'crazy' 24 hours after rollercoaster 5000m final

Funmilayo Fameso 11:16 - 06.08.2024

All you need to know about Faith Kipyegon's emotional 'crazy' 24 hours at Paris 2024 Olympics.

Faith Kipyegon's past 24 hours has been a rollercoaster of emotions following an unexpected turnout of events in the women's 5000m final at Paris 2024 Olympics.

Faith Kipyegon's August 5 saga

After a thrilling race where she missed out on the gold medal to compatriot Beatrice Chebet, Kipyegon was dealt the devastating blow of being disqualified for obstructing Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay.

Chebet clocked 14:28.56 as Kipyegon finished second but there would be a further shocker for her as she was disqualified with Sifan Hassan elevated to second place in 14.30.61, while Italian Nadia Battocletti was awarded a bronze medal.

Under Rule TR17.2.2 (163.2 (b)) on jostling or obstruction (O/S). It suggests: Any athlete who jostles, pushes, or obstructs another athlete during a race could be disqualified by the applicable Referee on the report of an umpire.

Kipyegon was judged to have obstructed Tsegay, which led to an uproar by Kenyans on her innocence and that it was the Ethiopian guilty of the charge.

Determined to overturn the decision, the 2023 world champion and Athletics Kenya appealed. To their relief, the appeal was successful with Kipyegon reinstated as the silver medalist, restoring Kenya's dominance in the event with a 1-2 finish.

Faith Kipyegon returns on August 6 for 1500m heats

The defending Olympic 1500m champion returned for the 1500m heat with a fourth-place finish to make the semifinals.

She ran a slow controlled race in 4:00.74 in heat 2 behind race winner Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji in 3:59.73, as Great Britain's Georgia Bell was second in 4:00.29 and USA's Nikki Hiltz ran 4:00.42 for third.

Faith Kipyegon finished fourth in her 1500m heat

Kipyegon will return in the semifinals with one goal of making the final, where she remains the favourite for the title as the World Record holder and defending Olympic champion.

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