Athletics at the 2024 Summer Olympics – Women's 10,000 metres

Did You Know?

• The qualification period ran from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.
• Athletes could qualify by running the entry standard of 30:45.00 or faster, or by their World Athletics Ranking for this event or the Cross Country event.
• A maximum of three athletes per nation could qualify.

Summary

The previous Olympic winner, Sifan Hassan, had been central to women's distance running since 2019, known for her finishing speed. She won the 2019 World Championships, placed fourth in 2022, and fell while leading near the finish in 2023. Letesenbet Gidey took silver in 2019 and bronze in 2020 before winning in 2022; Gudaf Tsegay won the 2023 world title ahead of Gidey, with Ejgayehu Taye completing an Ethiopian sweep. Kenya's Hellen Obiri and Margaret Kipkemboi earned silver and bronze in 2022. Beatrice Chebet set the world record earlier in the year and had already won the 5000 metres by out-sprinting Faith Kipyegon and Hassan. Tsegay and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk finished behind Chebet in that world-record race, the year's fastest. Gidey, Taye and Obiri did not compete here.

With 25 laps remaining, no contender wanted an early pace. Rino Goshima led for 10 laps; Hassan went to the back. Daisy Jepkemei took the front for two laps, then Lauren Ryan. Chebet stayed just off the lead, with Nadia Battocletti nearby. With ten laps left, pushing and shoving occurred. Kipkemboi moved to the front; the pack reduced to 13, including all three Kenyans, all three Ethiopians and all three Americans. Tsigie Gebreselama led a lap with the three Kenyans marking her. The Kenyans sometimes formed a protective wedge around Chebet, with Rengeruk on the outside and Kipkemboi. Tsegay marked Chebet a step behind. With 1500 metres to go, Parker Valby ran from the American group around the entire pack to the front. Kipkemboi accelerated; the Ethiopians came forward as a group on the outside, and the pack shifted four abreast. At the bell, the three Kenyans led, Chebet running wide, Battocletti sneaking up the inside.