Josh Kerr reflects on silver achievement in epic 1500m battle after outpacing Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Josh Kerr reflects on silver achievement in epic 1500m battle after outpacing Jakob Ingebrigtsen

Festus Chuma 12:00 - 07.08.2024

Josh Kerr secured silver in the Paris Olympics 1500m setting a British record while rival Jakob Ingebrigtsen missed the podium.

Great Britain's Josh Kerr has once again captured the world's attention with his remarkable performance in the men's 1500m final at the Paris Olympics, securing a silver medal and setting a new British record.

The 26-year-old runner, who had previously taken home a bronze medal from the Tokyo Games, outdid himself by clocking in at 3:27.79, a personal best that pushed him to the front of British middle-distance running.

Kerr, who narrowly missed the top podium spot to American Cole Hocker, expressed immense pride in his achievement.

Despite the fierce competition, he managed to break his own limits and establish a new national benchmark.

The race was tight, with Hocker setting an Olympic record at 3:27.65, just fractions of a second ahead of Kerr.

"It’s the fastest I’ve ever run. It’s the best 1500m performance I could ever ask for - a British record and a personal best," Kerr said in an interview with BBC.

"I told you guys we were going to put on a 1500m that would go down in generations and we did that today."

Kerr's ascent from bronze to silver is seen as a stepping stone toward his ultimate goal of Olympic gold.

In a candid moment, he shared his perspective on his performance and the intrinsic value of focusing on his own race strategy.

"But I've put a performance out there today that I was extremely proud of. I focused on my controllables, I ran the fastest and best 1500m I've ever done in my life and so when you start worrying about what everyone else does from the results, then you'll never be satisfied," he elaborated.

Kerr's silver-winning run in Paris has not only elevated his status but has also intensified the rivalry with Norwegian middle-distance runner, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who finished just outside the medal positions in fourth.

This rivalry, sparked by their previous encounters at the world championships, received a significant nod from Sebastian Coe, president of World Athletics.

Coe, who himself was embroiled in a historic rivalry with Steve Ovett during his competitive days, predicted a "race for the ages" between Kerr and Ingebrigtsen, likening it to his own competitive saga with Ovett.

The drama unfolded spectacularly in front of a packed Stade de France, with the crowd fervently supporting their respective athletes amidst a sea of British and Norwegian flags.

Josh Kerr's visit to the stadium last year, where he visualized his crowning moment, played a significant part in his mental preparation for the games.

Despite falling short of gold this time his performance in Paris has firmly established him as a dominant force in the world of middle-distance running promising more thrilling races to come.