Mozzart Sport writers' best race of Paris 2024 Olympics
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Reading Time: 5min | Tue. 13.08.24. | 18:28
In this particular article, our writers pick their best race of the Games, focusing on events that had Kenyan athletes participating
With the dust having settled on Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Mozzart Sport writers embark on a series of articles to review the 33rd edition of the Games.
In this particular article, our writers pick their best race of the Games, focusing on events that had Kenyan athletes participating.
KEVIN TEYA (Men's 800m)
A difficult choice, but I have to go with the 800m final where Emmanuel Wanyonyi emerged victorious.
Facing off against the formidable duo of Canada’s Marco Arop and Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, Wanyonyi was not widely favoured, especially with Arop known for his exceptional finishing kick and Sedjati being undefeated this year.
However, the 20-year-old handled the race with remarkable professionalism, leading from the start and clinching the gold, thereby preserving Kenya’s dominance in the event at the Olympics. This race stands out as my race of the tournament, with a Kenyan at the forefront.
SAMMY GITAHI (Women's 10,000m)
This might miss the mark of being entertaining - given it was a slow-burner - but definitely hits on being strategic and intriguing.
If my math is correct, there were eight different leaders in this race, before hell broke loose at the end, everyone going for the crown.
Yeah. The women’s 10,000m race was a crazy one.
The interesting part, bar Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel dominating early on before moving aside and out like she was the pacemaker, and Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama threatening with about seven laps to go, was the teamwork displayed by Team Kenya.
Beatrice Chebet, the crown jewel and record holder, only burst to the scene at the bell, having been safely secured by her teammates Margaret Chelimo and Lilian Kasait.
The duo, who came in fourth and fifth, showed immense selflessness to stop any Ethiopian break, and also kept pulling Chebet towards them when they briefly went ahead.
The turning of heads between the trio was evident and rare in this competition, and going by the final result - gold for Chebet and a near podium-sweep - perhaps more emphasis on tactics and teamwork for Team Kenya’s dreamwork.
MESHACK KISENGE (Men's 800m)
It was difficult to remain rooted on the chair when the bell rang for the final 400 m of the men’s 800 m final.
Watching Emmanuel Wanyonyi race from the front, maintaining the pace and pressure from an absolutely rich field, all the way to the finish lane was simply awe-inspiring.
That near-photo finish with world champion Marco Arop made the race even better.
The 20-year-old ensured that the title remained in Kenya and was the sole male athlete to bag a gold medal in Paris.
In the end, Wanyonyi was rewarded with gold and a new personal best, having clocked 1:41.19
BRIAN ODHIAMBO (Women's marathon)
It was a tough, chilly Sunday morning, watching the trio of Sharon Lokedi, Peres Jepchirchir, and Hellen Obiri take on the hills in the Paris Olympics marathon.
Jepchirchir was determined to retain her 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medal, while Obiri, after a long battle with injuries, was looking for a strong entry into the long-distance race, which Paris provided.
On the other hand, USA-based Lokedi, coming in as a reserve, was determined to prove her doubters wrong.
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The excellent runs by the Kenyans kept them in pace with the lead group. At some point, Jepchirchir was on such a high gear that I thought a new record might be set.
While Jepchirchir pushed ahead, Obiri played with my emotions, losing grip on the lead group a couple of times, and Lokedi nearly dropped to the chase group before picking up again.
That interchange in the lead group as the race progressed made it even more interesting. I'm still struggling to figure out how we failed to split from Sifan Hassan and the Ethiopians.
Then came the last 500m. Obiri, Hassan, and Tigst Assefa went head-to-head. Obiri tried to break away, but it proved difficult. Sifan, who had spent most of the race just trying not to lose contact with the lead group, unleashed her 1500m speed, and hell broke loose.
It became clear there would be no Kenyan anthem at the closing ceremony as Hassan overpowered the Kenyan and Ethiopian for the gold.
Obiri finished third, clocking 2:23:10 for the bronze medal.
Special mention to Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the youngster who defeated world giants to maintain Kenya's dominance in the 800m men's race.
IMRAN OTIENO (Women's 5000m)
This was arguably one of the most star-studded lineups in the women's races at the Paris 2024 Olympics that included Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Gudaf Tsegay, and Sifan Hassan just to name but a few.
From the onset, tactics were on play with the Ethiopians employing team tactics to try and wear down the Kenayns and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan.
The final few laps were something pulled out straight from a drama series as Tsegay entangled with Kipyegon.
Aside from the drama, Chebet cruised to victory with Kipyegon setting for silver while Sifan claimed bronze.
The drama had not reached its crescendo as after the race as Kipyegon was disqualified for the entanglement with Tsegay but a successful appeal by Team Kenya saw her silver reinstated.
LYNETTE MATHEKA
For many, we had just read that Paris would offer the toughest marathon course in the history of the Games; but boy were we in for a surprise!
Watching Benson Kipruto, on his debut, go against some of the best marathoners in the world to settle for bronze on such a course was overwhelming. Some one check Tamirat Tola's lungs, because....what was that!
The course’s total elevation gain of 1,430 feet (436 m) made it significantly hillier than either the Boston or New York City marathons, which are known for soul-sucking inclines.
So much so, some joked we should have enlisted our mountain-running greats, they might have had an easier time!
Jokes aside, Tola breaking the Olympic record here was cherry on top what was already an intriguing race.
It was a course that tested record-chasing Eliud Kipchoge, seeing the legendary marathon, a former world record holder, register his first ever DNF (did not finish).
Props to Hellen Obiri for achieving a similar feat a day later as she ran her first Marathon as part of Team Kenya.
All the finishers in those two races are some of the toughest athletes Paris hosted.
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