It was a shocking and magnificent night for France’s Jimmy Gressier, who beat a star-studded field in a tactical race to win his first-ever major title, claiming gold in the men’s 10,000m at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25.

With many athletes still in contention at the bell, the race came down to a sprint with the 25-year-old pipping Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha on the finish line to win France’s first outdoor global title in athletics since 2022.

Gressier crossed the line, arms stretched wide in disbelief, in a time of 28:55.77. Kejelcha, who led for most of the home straight, finished close behind in 28:55.83, while Sweden's Andreas Almgren claimed bronze in 28:56.02.

"This is a child's dream come true," said Gressier. "Some may have doubted my finish, but I always believed in myself. On the home stretch, I moved to third, then second and then gold. Jakob (Ingebrigtsen) told me I was training too hard. I made a few changes to my training, to be more controlled. I had a lot of mental energy for the final lap and it helped me today."

In hot and humid conditions, the race began at a slow pace, with the pack staying tightly together until Selemon Barega tested the waters with a surge. Uganda’s Oscar Chelimo responded by closing the gap. Barega then slowed the pace with 19 laps remaining, allowing the leading pack to regroup, with Chelimo now leading the single file.

Japanese duo Jun Kasai and Mebuki Suzuki briefly led the race, at which point the stadium erupted with even louder cheers while the rest of the field remained comfortably behind. Kenya’s Edwin Kurgat also took a turn at the front, before Norway’s Awet Kibrab reclaimed the lead. All the while, some of the big names stayed back in the pack.

It was when Kenya’s Benson Kiplangat took the lead that the race opened up again with Kurgat and Oscar Chelimo chasing with 12 laps to go. USA’s double Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher made his way up into third position; moments later, Kenya’s Ishmael Kipkurui forced yet another single file.

Fisher made his first move with seven laps remaining and he was soon joined by Almgren, who then took a brief turn at the front with Gressier, Kibet and Chelimo behind him. Kejelcha started to move up, and USA’s Nico Young surged to the front, but Almgren quickly reclaimed the lead. Fisher, Young and Gressier continued to power on.

In the closing stages, Ethiopian trio Barega, Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi made their expected move to join the group at the front, prompting the others to respond and scramble for position.

At the bell, the three Ethiopians surged to the front, with the towering figure of Kejelcha leading the charge. He was still in front for most of the home straight, but Gressier emerged from the pack in the final metres and caught him just before the line to take gold.

Michelle Katami for World Athletics