Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen Triumphs in 5,000m at Paris Olympics Following 1,500m Setback

Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen celebrated a significant victory as he clinched gold in the men’s 5,000 meters at the Paris Olympics on Saturday. After an unexpected fourth-place finish in the 1,500 meters earlier in the competition, Ingebrigtsen had something to prove. He made his move midway through the last lap, wisely conserving his energy before pulling ahead in the final stretch.

Reflecting on his performance, the 23-year-old said, “When you hit a wall and don’t perform the way you want to, it’s very difficult. But I got another shot. I just had to make the most of it.”

Ingebrigtsen completed the race in 13 minutes, 13.66 seconds, edging out silver medalist Ronald Kwemoi of Kenya by 1.38 seconds. American runner Grant Fisher secured bronze with a time of 13:15.13, his second bronze medal of the 2024 Olympics after his success in the 10,000 meters.

Fisher’s achievement also made history. He became the first American to medal in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at the same Olympic Games.

Ingebrigtsen’s victory in the 5,000 meters adds to his gold medal from the 1,500 meters at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago. His recent attempt to defend his title in the shorter event was thwarted by American Cole Hocker, who emerged as an unexpected winner, leaving Ingebrigtsen without a medal in that race.

This time, patience and pacing were key. Ingebrigtsen hung in the middle of the pack for much of the race, letting other runners set the pace. With 300 meters remaining, he surged to the front and gradually widened the gap to secure his win.

“I just tried to stay calm,” Ingebrigtsen said. “Went for it. I was able to catch up.”

As he crossed the finish line, Ingebrigtsen was far ahead of his competitors, reaffirming his prowess in the 5,000 meters, a distance he also dominated in the last two world championships. His performance in Paris may well be a redemption for his earlier setback in the 1,500 meters.