American athlete Cole Hocker became the star of the day at the Stade de France, claiming the Olympic gold in the 1,500 meters and dethroning the favorite, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Hocker's triumph contrasted with the joy of Greece’s Miltiadis Tentoglou, who won the long jump, and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, who triumphed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Hocker showcased a masterclass in tenacity, strategy, and physical prowess to achieve glory in Paris. He won the 1,500 meters with a time of 3:27.65, setting a new Olympic record. The race saw a surprising twist as Ingebrigtsen, one of the top contenders, exhausted himself and finished fourth, leaving the crowd in awe.

Entering the final in Paris, Hocker had the sixth-best personal record among the twelve participants, making him an underdog. Most eyes were on the intense rivalry between Ingebrigtsen and Scotland’s Josh Kerr, who had previously deprived the Norwegian of the 1,500-meter world title in Budapest last year.

Ingebrigtsen led the race until the final curve but faltered in the last hundred meters. Hocker, showing remarkable speed and determination, surged ahead from lane one and was the first to cross the finish line, clocking in at 3:27.65.

Behind Hocker, Josh Kerr finished second with a time of 3:27.79, earning a silver medal and setting a national record. Fellow American Yared Nuguse claimed bronze with a personal best of 3:27.80.

Ingebrigtsen, finishing fourth with a time of 3:28.24, looked resigned as he missed the podium. Adding to his disappointment, Hocker broke the Olympic record that Ingebrigtsen had set on August 7, 2021, in Tokyo, when he won with a time of 3:28.32.