Tsige Duguma wins the world indoor 800m title in Glasgow (© Getty Images)
The women’s 800m uncovered a new star at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Glasgow 24 as Tsige Duguma became Ethiopia’s first women’s world indoor champion in the discipline, and her nation’s first gold medallist of the championships.
During a race for which the volume at the Glasgow Arena went up another notch, the 23-year-old held off the challenge from home favourite Jemma Reekie to announce herself to the world.
Duguma stepped up to 800m for the first time in 2023, making her indoor debut just this year. But she raced in a way that belied her experience to get gold in 2:01.90, almost a second ahead of Scottish star Reekie, racing on her home track.
The early stages of Duguma’s career were focused on the sprints and she won the African U20 200m title in 2017. She graduated from 400m bronze at the Ethiopian Championships in 2019 to silver in 2021 and gold in 2022.
But she ran a 1:59.40 800m in Belgium last July and found her forte. That mark remained her PB until she improved to 1:58.35 to win her semifinal in Glasgow.
In what proved to be a tactical final, Duguma went straight to the fore – leading through 200m in 29.38 with Reekie right on her shoulder. Duguma and Reekie remained in control, and running side by side they hit half way in 1:03.39.
Duguma then had a narrow lead at the bell, with her compatriot Habitam Alemu – this year's world leader – joining them at the front, the teammates running either side of Reekie.
As the crowd’s roars grew louder, Olympic fourth-placer Reekie couldn't respond when Duguma kicked and that move carried her to victory.
Reekie secured silver – her first global medal – in 2:02.72 and they were followed over the finish line by an elated Noelie Yarigo, whose bronze was also a first global medal for the 38-year-old.
“This race was really amazing and it is hard for me to find proper words,” said Duguma. “The tactic I used was to push it forward and that is why I was able to get first place.
“It is true that the home crowd was pushing their athlete. I was confident coming into this race because I know how hard I was training, so I was ready to fight for the gold. Now, the focus is on the Olympics, and there is no doubt that I want to bring this medal home.”
Reekie said: “I knew those girls were going to throw something at me and they were just better than me today. I made some mistakes, but I've learned some lessons. It's always going to be unpredictable and it's what's going to happen if all these girls are running so fast, but it's my first senior medal so I'm not too disappointed.”
Yarigo spent a few years better known as a pacemaker on the international circuit but she has kicked on in her own elite career and now has a global medal to show for her efforts.
After her bronze medal-winning run, she laid down on the track with her hands over her face in disbelief.
She became Benin’s first ever global medallist in athletics.
“There are so few people in my tiny country and they are with me, I am crying with happiness that I could win a medal for them,” she said. “I am 38 but age is just a number for me. You just need to work very hard and believe in it.”
Jess Whittington for World Athletics
| WOMEN'S 800m MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Tsige Duguma 🇪🇹 ETH | 2:01.90 |
| 🥈 | Jemma Reekie 🇬🇧 GBR | 2:02.72 |
| 🥉 | Noelie Yarigo 🇧🇯 BEN | 2:03.15 |
| Full results | ||
