Current:Home > ContactCole Hocker shocks the world to win gold in men's 1,500 -AssetLink
Cole Hocker shocks the world to win gold in men's 1,500
View
Date:2025-04-24 08:30:27
SAINT-DENIS, France − In a stunning win, Team USA's Cole Hocker not only took the gold medal Tuesday in the men's 1,500-meter race at the Stade de France at the Paris Olympics, but broke the Olympic record in doing so with a time of 3:27.65.
World champion Josh Kerr of Britain won silver with a time of 3:27.79, and American Yared Nuguse took the bronze with a personal best 3:27.80. Hocker came from behind with a blistering pace over the final stretch to overtake Kerr and break the Olympic record of 3:28.32 previously set at the Tokyo Games in 2021 by Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
"With 100 meters to go, I knew I had enough," Hocker said. "I haven't seen the race replay or anything, but I saw Jakob, I feel like he was thinking about Kerr and started drifting out, and I thought I'd take advantage of that and try to punch that inside, which I've been able to do a couple times in my career. He's a smart enough racer where he closed that down immediately, so I had to reassess. It was special to be able to attack not only once, but twice."
➤ Get Olympics updates in your texts! Join USA TODAY Sports' WhatsApp Channel
Hocker is just the fourth American to win an Olympic gold medal in the 1,500.
2024 Olympic medals: Who is leading the medal count? Follow along as we track the medals for every sport.
The race had been billed as a showdown between Kerr and the confidently outspoken Ingebrigtsen, who not only saw his Olympic record fall, but was overtaken late in the race by the American Nuguse for the bronze, and faded to fourth.
It was Hocker, however, who overtook them all.
MORE:Gabby Thomas wins gold in 200, leading American track stars in final at Paris Olympics
"I was staying relaxed, and with 150 (meters) to go, I've never heard a crowd like that. At that point I really didn't feel anything and I just went," Hocker added. "It felt like another race in terms of kicking by people. I've done it, I feel like, countless times in my career so far. And this time it just happened to be against the Olympic champion (Ingebrigtsen) and the world champion (Kerr)."
Ingebrigtsen opened an early lead and held it through the first 1,200 meters. That's when Hocker, who was in fourth place with just 300 meters left, made his big move for the upset and historic Olympic glory.
"(Kerr and Ingebrigtsen) have had all the added pressure and all the added noise," Hocker added. "I think that's part of this job is blocking out that noise, and it gets harder and harder the more you excel, and I'm sure that'll change after today. ... I've been able to fly under the radar for this meet, but I'm sure I won't anymore."
Team USA's Hobbs Kessler finished fifth with a personal best 3:29.45.
Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at cgoodbread@gannett.com. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.
The USA TODAY app gets you to the heart of the news — fast.Download for award-winning coverage, crosswords, audio storytelling, the eNewspaper and more.
veryGood! (72)
Related
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Rachel McAdams Supports Mean Girls' Reneé Rapp on SNL With Surprise Appearance
- Simone Biles Supports Husband Jonathan Owens After Packers Lose in Playoffs
- Rory McIlroy makes DP World Tour history with fourth Hero Dubai Desert Classic win
- Newly elected West Virginia lawmaker arrested and accused of making terroristic threats
- What a Joe Manchin Presidential Run Could Mean for the 2024 Election—and the Climate
- Poland’s prime minister visits Ukraine in latest show of foreign support for the war against Russia
- Young ski jumpers take flight at country’s oldest ski club in New Hampshire
- What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
- National Cheese Lover's Day: How to get Arby's deal, enter Wisconsin cheese dreams contest
Ranking
- Jamie Foxx gets stitches after a glass is thrown at him during dinner in Beverly Hills
- Democrats believe abortion will motivate voters in 2024. Will it be enough?
- Sarah Ferguson Details “Shock” of Skin Cancer Diagnosis After Breast Cancer Treatment
- Full transcript of Face the Nation, Jan. 21, 2024
- Angelina Jolie nearly fainted making Maria Callas movie: 'My body wasn’t strong enough'
- A Russian private jet carrying 6 people crashes in Afghanistan. The Taliban say some survived
- Ancient temple filled with gold and silver jewels discovered in Greece
- Texas coach Rodney Terry apologizes for rant over 'Horns Down' gestures
Recommendation
Working Well: When holidays present rude customers, taking breaks and the high road preserve peace
Pro-Putin campaign amasses 95 cardboard boxes filled with petitions backing his presidential run
Protestor throws papers on court, briefly delaying Australian Open match between Zverev and Norrie
Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer now winningest coach in major college basketball, passing Mike Krzyzewski
NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
Simone Biles Supports Husband Jonathan Owens After Packers Lose in Playoffs
How did Texas teen Cayley Mandadi die? Her parents find a clue in her boyfriend's car
Piedad Cordoba, an outspoken leftist who straddled Colombia’s ideological divide, dies at age 68