Kipyegon's Olympics 5,000m silver medal reinstated after Team Kenya's appeal

World Champion Faith Kipyegon who was disqualified for lane infringement after finishing second in her 5,000m Olympics race, had her medal reinstated after a successful appeal.

Kipyegon had earlier been disqualified after a clash with Ethiopian world record holder Gudaf Tsegay on the penultimate lap.

However, Kenya’s team officials led by Milka Chemos, Bernard Ouma and Team Manager Peter Angwenyi successfully appealed and won her case.

"Congratulations to Faith Kipyegon, her silver medal has been reinstated," Athletics Kenya said on social media platform X.

Kenya on Monday finally registered on the medal table tally at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after Beatrice Chebet outsprinted compatriot Kipyegon to win the gold medal in the women's 5000 metres in splendid fashion at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis.

Chebet won in 14 minutes 28.56 seconds with Kipyegon finishing second in 14:29.60 and Netherlands' Sifan Hassan (14:30.61) claimed silver.

Chebet, runner-up at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene and bronze medallist in Budapest last year, took the early lead and hung in with Kipyegon through much of the race before surging past her off the final bend.

Tokyo champion Hassan was in fifth place heading into the final 400 and dug deep to try to hang on to her Olympic crown but could not match the Kenyans' speed around the final turn.

Chebet hugged and cheered with Kipyegon as the pair donned Kenyan flags to wild applause from the packed Stade de France.

Hongera Faith Kipyegon. The reinstatement of your Paris Olympics 5000m silver medal is well deserved. Keep shining. pic.twitter.com/bfdoVvlzgb

— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 6, 2024

It quickly became clear, however, that Kipyegon would not join her on the podium as her name disappeared from the results list and she was later marked disqualified.

"I am so sad for Faith and I hope justice will be done. Because Faith did not do anything bad," Chebet told reporters. "I think she will get it (the medal) in the end."

Hassan stood squinting at a monitor showing the results as Battocletti stood by in a confusing scene minutes after the race.

"I'm happy for you guys - for me, I don't care," Hassan said.