Guday Tsegay’s gold medal in the women’s 5000m strengthened Ethiopia’s position on the medals table, where they sit second only to the United States, on the penultimate day of action in the World Athletics Championships.
Having won silver in the 1500m in Eugene, Oregon, earlier in the week, Tsegay finished first despite Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan passing her with just 200m to go.
Roared on by the numerous Ethiopian fans inside the arena, the 25-year-old won a dramatic sprint finish ahead of Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, with Ethiopia’s Dawit Seyaum taking bronze.
Olympic champion Hassan could only finish sixth.
“We discussed the teamwork when we came to the competition, so we tried to do teamwork,” said Tsegay, who took bronze in the 2020 Olympic 5000m.
After 10,000m world champion Letesenbet Gidey came home in fifth, the three Ethiopians hugged in celebration, although a fan draped in a flag of Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region had to be escorted away by security as they did so.
“Our strength is our people, so when I saw the people supporting us like this, I felt very happy,” Tsegay added.
The Ethiopian fans danced and chanted outside the stadium for some time after the result.
All the past ten World Championships women’s 5000m titles have now either been won by Kenya or Ethiopia.
The latter currently boast 10 medals, four of which are gold, with third-placed Kenya having managed two golds, and eight overall, at the ongoing championships.
