Faith Kipyegon felt quite the range of emotions Monday during the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Controversy surrounded the women’s 5,000-meter race Monday when Kipyegon finished second only to be disqualified for obstructing a fellow runner and then later being reinstated upon appeal and entering the record books as the runner-up to fellow countrywoman Beatrice Chebet.
“I’m really happy that Faith (got) her medal back,” said third-place finisher Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands, per the Washington Post. “Faith deserves her silver medal.”
The drama unfolded in the next-to-last lap when Kipyegon and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay began jockeying for position, with the two hand-checking one another and bumping at one point.
Faith Kipyegon (r) and Gudaf Tsegay (l) jostle for position during the 1,500-meter race. AFP via Getty Images Kipyegon was initially disqualified before being reinstated. AFP via Getty ImagesA close-up of the NBC broadcast showed Tsegay’s arm in front of Kipyegon, who then hooked and pulled it, which irritated Tsegay, and they ultimately continued on with the race at Stade de France.
Kipyegon finished second with a time of 14:29.60 — more than one full second behind Chebet’s time of 14:28.56 — while Tsegay fell to ninth.
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Those standings, though, initially went by the wayside when officials disqualified Kipyegon.
The 1,500-meter women’s world record holder had to be consoled after learning of the news, crying into her country’s flag, per the Washington Post.
“I am so sad for Faith, and I hope justice will be done. Faith did not do anything bad,” Chebet said in the immediate aftermath, per the outlet. “I think she will get (the medal) in the end.”
2024 PARIS OLYMPICS
The Kenyan Federation appealed that decision, per NBC’s Mike Tirico, and more than an hour later tournament officials reversed the ruling at 11:16 p.m. ET.
Hassan, who had moved up to second before being being moved back to her third-place slot, had no qualms with the decision.
Kipyegon celebrates after finishing the race in second place. AFP via Getty ImagesItaly’s Nadia Battocletti would have been the biggest benefactor by moving from fourth to third, but she instead just missed the medal cut.
“I’m happy for you guys — for me, I don’t care,” Hassan said, per ESPN.
