World Athletics Championships 2023: Jakob Ingebrigtsen retains men's 5000m title in thrilling finish
The Norwegian pips Spain's Mohamed Katir on the line after both athletes surged on the final lap, with Ingebrigtsen picking up his second medal of the Championships.
Athletics
It's the same story for Jakob Ingebrigtsen for the second year in a row.
Beaten to the men's 1500m gold by a late attack, redemption in the men's 5000m. This time, the Norwegian was made to work hard to respond to another late move by Spain's Mo Katir in the first final on the last day of the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.
After his silver in the 1500m, Ingebrigtsen said he was struggling with feeling under the weather, having suffered from a sore throat. However, there were no signs of that on Sunday (27 August).
Ingebrigtsen had hung back early as Kenya's Ishmael Kipkurui went on an early attack, which lasted four laps. By the time the pack pulled him back with six to go, the Norwegian had moved up to the middle of the field.
The pace really picked up with just over a lap to go as a lead group of eight formed. Katir attacked first out of that group around the back bend with 200m to go, which forced a response from Ingebrigtsen.
That turned into a full-on sprint for the line, with the Norwegian managing to overtake his Spanish rival and dip at the line to retain his world title in a season's best 13:11.30, some 0.11 seconds ahead of Katir. Kenya's Jacob Krop took bronze in 13:12.28.
Spent, Ingebrigtsen and Katir both collapsed to the ground where they lay for a few moments, before the Norwegian picked himself up for a lap of honour, stopping to sign autographs for some fans in the crowd.
"To win another world title is great of course – but I was very tired," the Norwegian said after the race. "I tried to save my energy to win at the end because that was the only way tonight. I knew that if my tactics were better than my competitors I would have a chance to win, and that's what happened. It worked out absolutely perfectly.
"This title means a lot to me after losing again in the 1500m. I haven't been at my best but I had the motivation and I had great support."
Katir was gracious in defeat.
"You know, [Ingebrigtsen] is the best athlete nowadays. To beat him you have to give your best," he said.
“This medal proves the power of the mind. If the mind says that you can, even if you are physically exhausted, it means that you are going to fight for it.
"It also means that I have recovered myself after the 1,500 semifinal, where I was eliminated. That moment was really difficult for me, but today I'm going home with a silver in 5,000."