Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal (34) dropped to eighth place after an ankle drama in the 5000 meters.
Published: 05.08.2024 21:30 | Updated: 06.08.2024 15:41
She ultimately finished eighth in the Olympic 5000 meters. Kenyan Beatrice Chebet out-sprinted her compatriot Faith Kipyegon in the race for gold.
In the aftermath, the situation took several dramatic turns.
First, it was announced that Kipyegon had been disqualified for “obstruction” “obstruction” Rule TR17.1.22[O] = Obstruction. Source: World Athletics. and stripped of her silver medal. Many reacted to this.
– I cannot understand it. In my opinion, it is Tsegay who is trying to get through without enough space, said NBC commentator Kara Goucher, according to Runner’s World.
Kenya appealed the decision, and later gained support.
– A successful appeal. We have gotten our medal back, wrote Team Kenya on X shortly before midnight.
Also World Athletics states that the decision is official. Olympics confirms this just before midnight.
Thus, Kipyegon gets back the silver medal she originally won. Sifan Hassan from the Netherlands took bronze.
Eighth place is one notch weaker than her seventh place in the Rio 2016 Olympics, which is Bjerkeli Grøvdal’s personal best.
– I really feel that I did what I could. This might be the greatest 5000-meter field ever, says Grøvdal to NRK.
– It costs to lead, but that’s my strength. The differences are not that large, so I am satisfied.
The field set up for a tactical race, and after about 1200 meters Grøvdal got tired of the slow pace and moved to the front and took charge.
– It is completely windless and perfect conditions to be in the lead, said Vebjørn Rodal on the NRK broadcast.
– It’s sensible. She is anyway not good enough to follow many others in a sprint, he added.
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal continued to pull many of the world’s best distance runners and stayed in front for almost four laps. Then the best came, and she had to let go.
– I am satisfied with how I performed, says Grøvdal.
Grøvdal won gold in the half marathon and silver in the 5000 meters at the European Championships earlier this summer. Grøvdal has a seasonal best of 14:38.62 in the 5000 meters. Her personal record is 14:31.07. On Monday, her time was 14:43.21.
Karoline Bjerkeli Grøvdal finished fourth in her heat on Saturday.