New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish shocked the athletics world by winning gold in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships in Tokyo.
He narrowly defeated Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali, the four-time defending champion, by just seven hundredths of a second. The victory marks New Zealand’s first-ever world track gold medal.
El Bakkali, who had won both Olympic and world titles in recent years, seemed set for another triumph after taking the lead with one lap to go. But Beamish, known for his powerful finishing sprint, surged in the final 200 metres and crossed the line in 8 minutes 33.88 seconds. Kenya’s 17-year-old Edmund Serum earned bronze with a personal best of 8:34.56.
Beamish’s win was especially remarkable because he had stumbled and been stepped on during his qualifying race just days earlier. Ranked only the 31st fastest man in the world this season, few expected him to challenge for a medal. “I only knew I’d win one metre before the finish,” Beamish said afterwards.
The New Zealander also showed his versatility by winning the world indoor 1500m title last year. El Bakkali admitted his mistake came after clipping the final barrier but graciously congratulated Beamish.
In other events, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis once again raised the pole vault world record, clearing 6.30m for the 14th time in his career.
