The upcoming men’s 5000m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics is set to feature 22 athletes instead of the usual 16, thanks to some dramatic preliminary heats.
In the first heat, a collision caused four runners to fall within the last 100 meters. Heat two had a less severe incident where one runner tumbled, and a near-miss occurred when a cameraman accidentally stepped onto the track. As a result, six additional competitors have been advanced to the final, significantly increasing the field size.
With all eyes on this much-anticipated event, here’s how you can catch the action.
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How to Watch the Men’s 5000m Final
The final is scheduled for Saturday, August 10, at 1:50 p.m. EST at the Stade de France. Fans can tune in on NBC, or stream it via Peacock and NBColympics.com.
Top Athletes to Watch
Norwegian sensation Jakob Ingebrigtsen is a strong favorite for gold. Despite a surprising loss in the 1500m earlier in the competition, he clocked the fastest time in the 5000m prelims at 13:51.59, and he holds the European record for this distance.
Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet is another key contender. He recently recorded the second-fastest 5000m time in history at a Diamond League meet and previously earned bronze in this event at the 2016 Olympics.
Grant Fisher from Team USA is riding a wave of momentum after securing bronze in the 10000m and holds the North American records for both the 5000m and 10000m.
South Sudan’s Dominic Lobalu, competing for the Olympic Refugee Team, is one to watch as well. He won gold in the 10000m at the European Championships and could make history if he medals, following in the footsteps of boxer Cindy Ngamba.
What Led to the Increased Roster?
The chaos started with a clash between George Mills from the UK and France’s Hugo Hay, resulting in four runners falling in the first heat.
Mills, who completed the race in 18th place, collided with Hay just after the last turn. Hay managed to finish seventh. Other runners, including Spain’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, Lobalu, and Mike Foppen from the Netherlands, also hit the ground but still advanced, as did Australia’s Stewart McSweyn, who appealed for a spot in the final.
In the second heat, Team USA’s Abdihamid Nur fell in a packed race just before the final leg, impacting not only his time but also that of fellow competitor Yann Schrub from France, who finished 11th. Ultimately, Schrub was also granted a place in the final, rounding out the increased roster at 22 runners.