Defending champion
Peruth Chemutai returns as the world leader for the season, barely ahead of world record holder
Beatrice Chepkoech who is also the
2019 world champion and
2023 silver medalist. 2023 gold medalist
Winfred Yavi also entered. Those three athletes were the individual heat winners.
2022 world champion was
Norah Jeruto, 2019 bronze
Gesa Krause and 2023 bronze
Faith Cherotich but the rest of the recent podiums were missing.
Valerie Constien,
Faith Cherotich,
Alice Finot and
Courtney Wayment were high on the world list. From the gun, a pack of Chemutai, Chepkoech, Cherotich and
Sembo Almayew went to the front with Chemutai on point. After the four formed a break a lap into the race, Yavi, on the front of the second group, bridged the small gap to tag onto the back of the pack. Chepkoech took over the lead for the next three laps, when Chemutai moved up again. Almayew moved up to her shoulder. Yavi moved up around a struggling Cherotich to stay in contact. With two laps to go, Almayew struggled to keep pace and Yavi moved up again. At the bell Chemutai, Chepkoech and Yavi were in a close pack in that order. Through the turn, Yavi moved up behind Chemutai. Down the backstretch, those two separated. Chepkoech was broken, Cherotich went by. Through the final water jump Chemutai held the inside line and the advantage. Behind them
Alice Finot, running fastest of all of them, picked off Alamyew and a fading Chepkoech, setting her sights on Cherotich. Going in to the final barrier, Yavi got past Chemutai but then stutter-stepped, both jumping high over the barrier together. Who would have the speed at the end? At first it looked like Chemutai had the advantage, but not known as a fast finisher, Yavi exhibited better sprint form and speed, pulling away for the gold. Cherotich held off Finot for bronze. It was a new Olympic Record for Yavi, the
#4 performance of all time (though she already holds #2). Chemutai improved upon her own
National Record. Cherotich moved up to #13 and the #7 performer. Finot was #23, #11 performer and the
European Record plus the
French record at home. Even further back
Elizabeth Bird became the #19 performer with a new
British Record and
Lomi Muleta became #22. ==Background==