Paris 2024 Olympics: Abraham Kibiwot Claims Bronze for Kenya in Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase as Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali Defends Title Against Kenneth Rooks
Fiona Nanna, ForeMedia News
6 minutes read. Updated 8:11AM GMT Thurs, 8 August, 2024
In an exhilarating display of endurance and athletic prowess, Kenyan runner Abraham Kibiwot clinched the bronze medal in the men’s 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The event, held on Wednesday night at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, Paris, showcased a fiercely competitive race where Kibiwot fell just short of gold, with Moroccan athlete Soufiane El Bakkali asserting his dominance.
El Bakkali, the reigning world and Olympic champion, finished first with a season-best time of 8:06.05, successfully defending his Olympic title from Tokyo 2020. Kibiwot, who displayed remarkable resilience and determination throughout the race, crossed the finish line with a personal best time of 8:06.47. Despite his valiant effort, Kibiwot’s performance was only enough for third place, as he was narrowly outpaced by the American Kenneth Rooks, who secured the silver with a time of 8:06.41.
The race, marked by a strategic and high-stakes contest, saw Rooks capitalize on a late surge, overtaking Kibiwot in the final moments. Simon Koech, another Kenyan contender, initially appeared poised for a medal but fell to seventh place with a season-best time of 8:09.26. Koech’s hopes were dashed as El Bakkali and Kibiwot mounted a decisive push to thwart Rooks’ advance.
Amos Serem, the third Kenyan in the race, struggled significantly and finished in 14th place with a time of 8:19.74. Serem, who only qualified for the final after a referee’s decision following a heat race incident, was unable to contend with the leading pack, his performance marred by an uninspired effort throughout the race.
In a surprising turn of events, Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, the world record holder and Tokyo 2020 silver medalist, did not finish the race. Girma’s campaign ended abruptly when he stumbled over a hurdle before the penultimate water jump. His teammates, Samue Firewu and Getnet Wale, who had led portions of the race, finished in sixth and ninth places with times of 8:08.87 and 8:12.33, respectively.
Japanese runner Ryuji Miura, the top non-African competitor, placed eighth with a time of 8:11.72. Indian athlete Avinash Mukund Sable made a notable early impression, leading the race’s first 800 meters before ultimately finishing 11th with a time of 8:14.18. Tunisian Mohamed Amid Jhinaoui set a national record with a fourth-place finish and a time of 8:07.03, while his compatriot Ahmed Jaziri secured fifth place with a personal best time of 8:08.02.
Other notable finishers included Spaniard Daniel Arce (10th, 8:13.80), Moroccan Mohamed Tindouft (12th, 8:14.82), and Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnes (13th, 8:19.31).
In the 400 meters hurdles semifinals, Kenyan Wiseman Mukhobe Were fell short of advancing to the final, finishing fifth in his semifinal with a time of 49.22 seconds. Despite a strong start and clearing the first hurdle efficiently, Were could not maintain his pace, ultimately finishing behind American Rai Benjamin, who won the race with a time of 47.85 seconds, and Roshawn Clarke, who took second with 48.34 seconds.
The steeplechase event at the Paris 2024 Olympics was a testament to the extraordinary level of competition and the relentless pursuit of athletic excellence on the world stage.
