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A stupendous finale to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games track and field programme at a packed Stade de France on Saturday (10 August) saw history made as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon won a third women’s 1500m title, while the United States won both 4x400m titles, setting an Olympic record of 2:54.43 in the men’s event and a North American record of 2:15.27 in the women’s.
New Zealand’s Hamish Kerr defeated Shelby McEwen of the United States in the first jump-off in a men’s Olympic high jump final, while Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen responded to an earlier defeat – the loss of his 1500m title – with victory as he proved imperious in the distance at which he has won the last two world titles, the 5000m.
Kenya’s 20-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi, inspired by compatriot and world record-holder David Rudisha, became the youngest winner of the men’s 800m in Olympic history as he reversed his defeat by Marco Arop in last year’s world final to take gold ahead of his Canadian rival in a personal best of 1:41.19.
Home athlete Cyrena Sambela-Mayela earned France’s first track and field medal of the Paris 2024 programme on the final day in finishing second to Masai Russell of the United States in the 100m hurdles, while Japan’s world javelin champion Haruka Kitaguchi added Olympic gold to her collection.
The USA’s 4x400m victories consolidated their position at the top of the track and field medals table with a total of 34, including 14 golds. Kenya was a distant second with a total of 10 medals including four golds, ahead of Canada, with a total five medals and three golds, while Spain and Norway, with two golds each, were respectively fourth and fifth.
• Evening session round-up
Day 10 event reports
• Men’s 800m
• Women’s 1500m
• Men’s 5000m
• Men’s marathon
• Women’s 100m hurdles
• Men’s high jump
• Women’s javelin
• Women’s 4x400m
• Men’s 4x400m
Looking ahead
• Women’s marathon preview
Shuaeeb Is a seasoned sportswriter, social worker, and philanthropist. He has been renowned for his support of disabled sports persons and championing for equal rights and opportunities for all sports persons. He is also a father of 4 children and married to His partner Moana who is of Australian descent. He currently does sports volunteering and disability support work aside from writing for this August media.
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