Team USA runner Cole Hocker pulled off a huge shock as he saw off Josh Kerr and Jakob Ingebrigtsen to win gold in the 1500m final.
The 23-year-old American stunned the two favourites with a late surge in the final home straight to set a new Olympic record of 3.27:65.
Great Britain athlete Kerr looked to have secured gold when he overtook Ingebrigsten, who had led for most of the race, late on but had to settle for silver.
Fellow American Yared Nugus almost pipped Kerr to second place as he took bronze, with a disappointed Ingebrigsten finishing outside the podium in fourth.
Kerr’s rivalry with Ingebrigsten had been all that was talked about in the lead-up to the race, with the Brit beating the 23-year-old to gold at the World Championships last summer.
WHAT. A. FINISH.
Men’s 1500m final felt like a movie.
🥇 3:27.65 Cole Hocker 🇺🇸 OR
🥈 3:27.79 Josh Kerr 🇬🇧 NR
🥉 3:27.80 Yared Nuguse 🇺🇸 PB#Paris2024 #OlympicGames pic.twitter.com/PIBH7E1Pbr— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 6, 2024
A war of words between Kerr and the Tokyo 2020 gold medallist had been ongoing ever since and for much of the race, it seemed as though they would the two racers being talked about afterwards.
Ingebritzen flew out of the traps with a fast pace for much of the race, with Kerr eventually overtaking his rival just before the home stretch,
But unfortunately for Kerr, Hocker had timed his run better as he came out of nowhere to secure a stunning victory that few had foreseen.
