Beatrice Chebet catapulted herself into history on Friday in the women’s 10,00om by winning gold and completing the double following victory in the 5,000m days earlier.
Chebet, 24, crossed the finish line in 30:43.25 and marked the first time a Kenyan athlete has won two golds on the track in the Olympics.
“My country is watching me, so I have to focus on the 10,000m and not think that I’ve won a gold medal,” she said. “That was my target.”
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti won silver in 30:43.35 and set a national record, while the Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won her second bronze in Paris in 30:44.12.
No Kenyan has won the 10,000m gold since 1988.
Chebet is the world record holder in the 10,000m in 28:54.15 and was a factor in Friday’s final from the start. Hassan took her usual position at the back of the field and surged with 200m remaining. Battocletti remained in contention but trailed as Chebet used a 57.4 lap to secure the win.
“To do the 5,000m and 10,000m is not something easy,” she said. “But just focus, and know that you can achieve. Just believe in yourself.”
Meanwhile, Hassan has her sights on three medals in three events in Paris, with a pair of bronzes in the 5,000m and 10,000m. She will be in action in the marathon on Sunday — a bit more than a day after her second race.
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