Soufiane El Bakkali beats Lamecha Girma in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 (© Getty Images)
Lamecha Girma, twice a world record-breaker this year, had to settle for a fourth global 3000m steeplechase silver medal as world and Olympic champion Soufiane El Bakkali beat him in a familiar manner to win in 8:03.53 at the World Athletics Championships Budapest 23 on Tuesday (22).
There was another monumental struggle between the two men over the final lap as Ethiopia's Girma – who set a world indoor 3000m record and then lowered the world steeplechase record that had stood since 2004 to 7:52.11 – strove to make his new status tell.
But as in last year’s World Championships in Oregon, and the Tokyo Olympic final, the 27-year-old Moroccan was able to find the killing final speed to frustrate Girma’s ultimate ambition.
At the finish line, which he crossed in 8:05.44, Girma’s face was drained of emotion as he accepted a flag that was placed dutifully over his shoulders without doing anything energetic with it. Three World Championships silvers in a row is a proud record - but it didn’t seem to feel like it at that moment.
El Bakkali, meanwhile, prostrated himself in prayer before wandering, as if dazed, on the track before heading over to collect a flag and congratulations from his nearest and dearest, his face suddenly contorted with tears.
“After winning in Eugene last year I am really proud to bring home another gold,” El Bakkali said. “I had great preparations for these championships but today's field was very strong with athletes like Lamecha.
“I came ready and prepared and believed I could win. This medal gives me additional motivation for the Olympic Games in Paris. I want to win there too.”
In what was effectively a separate race, bronze went to Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot, who managed, remarkably, to recover from a heavy fall over a barrier going into the final lap and outsprint his compatriot Leonard Kipkemboi Bett to finish third in 8:11.98, with the latter clocking 8:12.26.
New Zealand’s George Beamish was next home, finishing fifth in 8:13.46, with Japan’s Ryuji Miura taking sixth place in 8:13.70.
Girma, who was beaten to the world title in 2019 by Kenya’s Conseslus Kipruto, had hoped fervently to become the first Ethiopian to win this world title after his extraordinary performance at last month’s Diamond League meeting in Paris, where he took just over a second and a half off the long-standing mark of 7:53.63 set in Brussels by Saif Saaeed Shaheen.
Earlier in the year he had worked to historic effect on his flat speed by breaking Daniel Komen’s 25-year-old world indoor record in the 3000m in Lievin, with a time of 7:23.81.
After his Paris race it was back to training to sharpen himself for the supreme test. He did everything right. But after reaching the bell with just over a metre lead from his great rival he could not lengthen that margin, and the further around the final lap the more inevitable seemed the eventual result.
The moment Girma must have dreaded and expected came as they entered the final bend, as El Bakkali moved past on the outside and then opened up a growing lead down the finishing straight to cross the line 10 metres clear.
“That is my fourth global silver medal but I am satisfied by every single race against El Bakkali,” Girma said.
“The weather today was bit a hot, but the final was pretty good. I still aim to win gold at the World Championships or Olympic Games. Nothing has changed in my goals. Maybe, I became even more motivated for next year.”
At just 22, Girma has many years yet to pursue those twin ambitions.
“We will discuss what was wrong,” he added. “I am sure I was highly prepared physically and technically as I managed to break the world record. It tells you everything about my fitness. Maybe I had a lack of focus. In any case, I continue fighting and dreaming about world's gold.”
Kibiwot, meanwhile, commented: “It was my third time to compete but it is my first time to actually win a medal at the World Championships.
“I came here to finally take a medal home with me. This is why I stayed behind El Bakkali and Lamecha. It was my tactic to follow them, stick with them. I knew I can make it this way. It was a good race, even if I fell when we started the last lap.
“Then Leonard Bett managed to pass me, but there was no question I would make it to the podium. At these times there is no tiredness. I feel so great, this is even more than happiness.”
There was frustration for Girma’s compatriot Getnet Wale, second in this year’s world list, who finished fourth at the last two World Championships and at the Tokyo Olympics. Here he was 11th in 8:21.03.
Mike Rowbottom for World Athletics
| MEN'S 3000m STEEPLECHASE MEDALLISTS | ||
| 🥇 | Soufiane El Bakkali 🇲🇦 MAR | 8:03.53 |
| 🥈 | Lamecha Girma 🇪🇹 ETH | 8:05.44 |
| 🥉 | Abraham Kibiwot 🇰🇪 KEN | 8:11.98 |
| Full results | ||
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