Faith Kipyegon's silver medal reinstated

By Peter Ochieng

Double world champion in 1500m Faith Kipyegon has every reason to smile, after her silver medal in the 5000m at the 2024 Olympics ongoing in Paris, France was reinstated.

Beatrice Chebet won gold in the 5000m race on Monday night, ahead of her compatriot, Kipyegon.

Moments later, Kipyegon was disqualified from her silver medal position after being adjudged to have obstructed Ethiopian world record holder Gudaf Tsegay, as the two tussled with two laps to go.

Tsegay had tried to curve her way to the front from the inside, elbowing out Kipyegon in the process.

Kipyegon responded 'in kind,' by equally protecting her territory, which was later judged to be obstruction.

The National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) officials in Paris successfully launched an appeal.

"What happened between me and Gudaf is that I was infront and she was trying to overtake me, but I told her that she will push me outside the lane, but she kept on pushing and was wondering where was I to run to? We hope for the best after the appeal," said Kipyegon, after learning of her disqualification.

Her teammates, newly crowned Olympic champion Chebet and Margaret Chelimo, backed her adding that the Ethiopian who finished third in the race was on the wrong.

"The mistake was not Faith’s it was Gudaf’s. I was behind them, Faith was in the first lane and the Ethiopian was trying to go there, so Faith had to tell her not to shove her, so she (Faith) was trying to balance not go out of the lane,” said Chebet.

Kenya has so far bagged 3 medals, courtesy of world champion Mary Moraa's bronze in the 800m race on Monday night.