– Oi, then they push each other, the biggest favourites! exclaimed commentator Jann Post. The episode happened two laps before the finish in the women’s 5,000 meters. World record holder Gudaf Tsegay went to the top. She came close to Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, who appeared to push Tsegay. A few minutes later, while Kipyegon was being interviewed by Max, she was told by a competitor what had happened. Chebet was completely taken aback and did not seem to understand what had happened. They looked down at the results list several times and looked questioning. Chebet then disappeared through the interview zone in tears. The disking is due to an obstruction. And it would also have consequences for Norwegian Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal, who was a few meters behind. Took the lead In the final it was very calm from the start. After 1000 metres, Grøvdal chose to go up to the top. She didn’t want to take part in any trickery. – It’s scary, but I had decided on it in advance. It is my strength to run at high speed for a long time and make the others a little less strong at the end, she says after the race. IN TET: Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal led the field for almost 2000 of the 5000 metres. Photo: NTB The offensive venture was well received by the Norwegian commentators. – We must pay tribute to Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal for her efforts. She belongs to the top ten in the world in long-distance running and delivers on the most important day of the year, said news commentator Jann Post. Grøvdal was stuck in traffic for two kilometres. Then a group of Ethiopians came up and took over the lead. Grøvdal was further back in the field, and a kilometer before the finish, a group of the favorites got a gap to the Norwegian running queen. However, she wasn’t hooked. In front, Beatrice Chebet of Kenya won the sprint after a duel with Faith Kipyegon. Dutch Sifan Hassan, who was aiming for three medals in the Olympics, finished third. A few meters further back, Grøvdal also sprinted well, and on the last lap she caught sight of big favorite and world record holder Gudaf Tsegay in front of her. She managed to get by. – I thought “oh, what is she doing here?”. It’s fun and I felt it responded well in the last 200. There were a couple of Americans there that I would have liked to beat. I am very satisfied that I can get a fight at the end there, she says. Grøvdal ran in as woman number 8 with a time of 14:43.21. But then there was more drama. Dished up after a push A few minutes after the finish line, it became clear that Kipyegon, who finished second across the finish line, had been dished out. There are many indications that it was the push between Tsegay and Kipyegon two laps before the finish line that is the cause, but this has not been confirmed. PUSH: Faith Kipyegon and Gudaf Tsegay. Photo: AFP Grøvdal thus ends up in 7th place. It is the same as she got at the distance in the Olympics in 2016. In the WC last year, she came eighth. The difference this time is that Grøvdal felt she was more involved in the race and closer to where it happened. She both led along the way, and kept up usefully when the pace increased towards the end. – I have never been as close to a final as I was now. In the WC last year I was number eight, but I was never in the race there. At least here I feel that I was in the race. It gives a much better feeling, she says. Italian Nadia Battocletti, who thought she finished in fourth place, was unsure of where she ended up when she spoke to news – At the moment, I want to deal with reality, she says. – Did you see the situation? – Yes. I saw it. I don’t know if Kenya or Ethiopia is right, she says. Published 05/08/2024, at 21.46 Updated 05.08.2024, at 22.38
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Star drama at 5000 meters – silver medalist dished out – Olympics Paris 2024
