During the evening program of the fourth athletics day of the Olympic Games, the Stade de France is filled to the brim. More than 80,000 spectators are ready for a jam-packed athletics program. From the Dutch team, Sifan Hassan, Jorinde van Klinken, Menno Vloon and Tasa Jiya came into action this evening.
Sifan Hassan takes bronze in the 5000 meters
With a seemingly impossible running program – she will run the 5000 meters, 10,000 meters and the marathon during these Games – this was Sifan Hassan’s first final of these Games. With a very strong field of participants with favorites like Ejgayehu Taye (SB: 14:18.92) and reigning world champion Faith Kipyegon (PB: 14:05.20, SB: 14:46.28) it promised to be an exciting final.
Sifan started the race in her usual way: at the back of the field. With a quiet first few kilometers behind the Norwegian Karoline Grovdal, this race could be labeled as a typical championship race. After 2600 meters Sifan slowly moves up to the front of the field and the pace is increased. Sifan waits until the start of the last lap to place her acceleration. After a great last 400 meters she manages to secure the bronze in a time of 14:30.61. Just not enough to catch the two fighting Kenyans. Beatrice Chebet comes out on top and wins in 14:28.56, the second place is there for Faith Kipyegon (14:29.60).
But… after the race it becomes clear that Kipyegon is disqualified because of her battle with Gudaf Tsegay. That means that the silver goes to Sifan Hassan, the gold to Beatrice Chebet and the bronze to the Italian Nadia Battocletti (14:31.64). After the race Hassan speaks to NOS: ‘I don’t care if it’s silver, I’m happy with the medal.’
Just over an hour after the race, the disqualification is reversed and Hassan still takes the bronze. One chaotic evening is an understatement!
Want to know how tough Hassan’s Olympic program really is? Our editor Bram Ribbers tried it out…
Tasa Jiya stranded in the 200m semi-final
Tasa Jiya unfortunately does not get further than the semi-finals of the 200 meters. In a strong series she comes 6th in a time of 22.81. Gabrielle (Gabby) Thomas wins the series convincingly in 21.86 with Dina Asher-Smith (22.31) behind her. After her race Jiya speaks to the press: ‘it was a rollercoaster.’ Due to a pain in her hamstring on the day of the competition she lost control and thought she might withdraw. Jiya: ‘I always say that I can deal with anything, but pains that I have no control over are very difficult for me.’
Jorinde van Klinken finishes 7th in the discus throw final
Jorinde van Klinken comes 7th in the final of the discus throw. The Dutch record holder threw the discus 63.35 meters in her first attempt into the Stade de France. Unfortunately, van Klinken’s third, fourth and fifth throws were invalid. The American Valarie Allman wins gold with a great throw of 69.50 meters. The Chinese Bin Feng takes silver (67.51) and Sandra Elkasevic takes the bronze with also 67.51 meters. Because Feng threw a further second throw, she wins the silver.
Menno Vloon finishes 11th in pole vault
At the beginning of the evening, Menno Vloon from Zaanse came into action during the final of the pole vault. With a personal best of 5 meters 96 and a seasons best of 5.84 meters, he was placed 6th in the final – based on his SB. The ultimate favorite of the field was of course the Swede Armand Duplantis (PB: 6.24, also WR). In addition, the American Sam Kendricks was a good candidate for the medal
Menno Vloon managed to jump over 5.70 meters in an exciting third attempt. Unfortunately, he could not do this again with 10 centimeters extra. He ends as 11th at 5.70 meters.
Sam Kendricks wins silver with his jump of 5.95. Bronze goes to Greek Emmanouil Karis with his jump of 5.90 meters.
Armand Duplantis jumps world record
But the star of the evening is Armand Duplantis. He turns the stadium upside down with his jump of 6 meters 10. At that moment he is already certain of Olympic gold and an Olympic record. He then chooses to have the bar raised to a new world record, 6 meters 25. He goes well over this and thus breaks his own world record. The stadium goes crazy!
Curious which athletes will be in action tomorrow? See the full athletics program here.
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