American runner Cole Hocker shocked everyone by winning the 1500m gold medal and setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3:27.65 at the Paris 2024 Olympics. Expected to be a contest between Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the reigning champion, and Britain’s Josh Kerr, the race took an unexpected turn when Hocker won handily.
Kerr, aiming to replicate his winning strategy from the previous year’s World Championships in Budapest, overtook Ingebrigtsen on the final bend. However, Hocker’s powerful sprint from the inside lane added an unexpected twist, forcing Ingebrigtsen into a difficult position as he was challenged from both sides. Kerr finished with a silver medal, clocking a British national record of 3:27.79, narrowly behind Hocker. Ingebrigtsen, struggling in the final stretch, was overtaken by American Yared Nuguse, who claimed bronze with a personal best of 3:27.80.
Ingebrigtsen, who aimed to join Sebastian Coe as the only men to win back-to-back Olympic 1500m titles, finished fourth with a time of 3:28.24, missing the podium.
Hocker’s victory drew parallels to Matthew Centrowitz’s surprising 1500m win at the Rio 2016 Olympics. Earlier this year, Hocker had earned a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships. Three years ago, he had defeated Centrowitz at the US Trials and placed sixth at the Tokyo Olympics with a then personal best of 3:31.40.
Reflecting on his triumph, Hocker expressed a mix of disbelief and elation. “It’s an unbelievable feeling,” he said. “I felt like the stadium and a higher power were carrying me. Winning gold was my goal for the entire year. My performances showed I could run 3:27 if needed.”
Kerr, although disappointed, acknowledged his effort. “It’s hard to process it all right now,” he said. “I ran the fastest race of my life by almost two seconds. It wasn’t enough today, but that’s the nature of the sport.”
Ingebrigtsen, contemplating his performance, admitted he might have pushed too hard. “It was the race I anticipated. I felt great, but maybe I overdid it. The others ran fantastic races. This was the risk I chose to take.”
The race began with Ingebrigtsen setting a fast pace, leading through 800m in 1:51.5 and 1200m in 2:47.3. Despite his attempts to break away, Kerr and Kenya’s Brian Komen stayed close. In the final lap, Hocker and Kerr overtook Ingebrigtsen, crushing his hopes for a repeat victory.
This event marked the first time since 1912 that two American athletes medaled in the Olympic 1500m. Hobbs Kessler, the third American in the race, finished fifth with a personal best of 3:29.45. Nineteen-year-old Niels Laros of the Netherlands set a national record of 3:29.54 to finish sixth, while Pietro Arese of Italy also set a national record of 3:30.74 to finish eighth.
Nuguse, thrilled with his bronze medal, described the race as “absolutely phenomenal.” He added, “This medal means everything. Competing on the world stage at the peak of our sport and sharing this moment with a fellow American makes it even more special.”
[…] Cole Hocker of the USA slips through the inside to win the Gold Medal in 1500m Men’s Final in an Olympic Record time of 3:27, with Josh Kerr taking the silver and Yared Nuguse of the USA taking the bronze. Defending champion and fancied favourite Jakob Ingebrigsten of Norway fell to fourth. […]