Beatrice Chebet aiming at historic double as Kenya looks to win first ever women’s 10,000m Olympics gold

Beatrice Chebet aiming at historic double as Kenya looks to win first ever women’s 10,000m Olympics gold

Joel Omotto 06:37 - 09.08.2024

Beatrice Chebet is looking to win a first women’s 10,000m Olympics title for Kenya but will have to be mindful of defending champion Sifan Hassan and controversial Gudaf Tsegay.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet is out to complete a rare Olympics double as she takes to the track for the women’s 10,000m final in Paris on Friday night.

Chebet stunned Faith Kipyegon to win the 5,000m title and is now looking for double delight in Paris in the 10,000m.

Kenyan hopes lie in the two-time World Cross-Country champion who broke the world record in 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic in May, which acted as the Olympics trials for Team Kenya.

After her great tactical race in the 5,000m, there is optimism among Kenyans that lighting will strike twice and add a second gold on the medal table.

Chebet is joined on the team by Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo but the Kenyan trio will have to be mindful of defending champion Sifan Hassan and Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.

Hassan in featuring in three races at the Paris Games, the 5,000m, where she won bronze, 10,000m and marathon and the Kenyans have an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.

The first is to stop her from retaining her title while the second is running a fast race that will burn her out before Sunday’s marathon where she will be up against Kenyans Peres Jepchirchir, Hellen Obiri and Sharon Lokedi.

Meanwhile, Tsegay is the athlete who nearly ruined Kipyegon’s Olympics after she had an altercation with her in the 5,000m that led to her disqualification before her silver medal was reinstated following an appeal.

Ethiopian runners are gaining a reputation of using ‘dirty tricks’ and the Kenyans will have to be wary of them by avoiding close contact.

Kenya has never won an Olympics gold in the women’s 10,000m, giving Chebet and Co and opportunity to make history.

Sally Kipyego, silver in London 2012, and Vivian Cheruiyot, silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in London 2012, are the only medallists from Kenya in the women’s 10,000m at the Olympics.