Faith Kipyegon said it was a “great honour” to set an Olympic record as she won the women’s 1,500 metres at the Games for the third time in a row.
The Kenyan’s remarkable performance came after his team-mate Emmanuel Wanyonyi triumphed in the men’s 800 metres final on a day when there were plenty of medals up for grabs for Africa.
Ahmed Elgendy set a world record in the men’s modern pentathlon to give Egypt its first gold medal at Paris 2024, while Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola produced a dominant performance in the men’s marathon.
Kipyegon added her impressive 5000m silver medal to her 1500m gold medal on Monday, after the 30-year-old was disqualified for obstruction but was reinstated after appealing.
“It’s quite an achievement,” she said.
“I was really looking forward to defending my title. I had a dream, I made it come true.
“I made history, won the gold medal in the 1500. That was my main goal. I am so, so grateful.”
Wanyonyi, meanwhile, clocked the third-fastest 800 metres of all time, crossing the finish line in one minute and 41.19 seconds, beating Canada’s Marco Arop by just 0.01 seconds.
Algerian Djamel Sedjati won bronze, while Kenyan Ronald Kwemoi took silver in the men’s 5,000 metres, behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Newly crowned 200m champion Letsile Tebogo helped Botswana to silver and a new African record in the men’s 4x400m relay, while South Africa’s Jo-Ane van Dyk finished second in the women’s javelin.
Gold and silver for Egypt
Outside the Stade de France, modern pentathlete Elgendy improved on his silver medal from Tokyo 2020.
The 24-year-old, whose performance in the final gave him a 17-second lead in the final event, the laser run, said he was happy to be on the podium after a tough ordeal three years after competing in Japan.
“It means a lot to me because the last three years that I have been competing I have had a lot of problems, both physically and mentally, with injuries and pain,” he said.
“It’s the only gold medal [for Egypt] at these Olympic Games. I am so proud to have received this medal.”
Earlier on Saturday, Egyptian weightlifter Sara Ahmed won silver in the women’s 81kg category.
Ahmed, the former world champion in the 76kg weight class who carried the flag at the opening ceremony, lifted a whopping 151kg on her second attempt at the clean and jerk, finishing with a total weight of 268kg.
“I wanted to win the gold, but I’m very happy and satisfied that I won the silver,” said the 26-year-old.
“This experience will make me better in the future and take me to the top.”
Elsewhere, Ivorian taekwondo athlete Cheick Sallah Cisse took bronze in the men’s +80kg class.
