Gold: Conseslus Kipruto (Kenya)
Silver: Evan Jager (United States)
Bronze: Ezekiel Kemboi (Kenya)
Conseslus Kipruto realized that he was about to win the Olympic 3000m steeplechase gold medal as he approached the final straightaway. The Kenyan thrust his fist in the air, waved to the crowd and literally danced across the finish line. Even with his exuberant celebration, he clocked 8 minutes, 3.28 seconds to break the Olympic record, which had stood since 1988.
Two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi earned the bronze medal, as Kenyan athletes continued to dominate the event. A Kenyan man has won a gold medal at every Olympics since 1984, and multiple Kenyan athletes have claimed medals in the event at every Olympics since 1988.
Evan Jager, the American record holder, led for much of the race until being passed on the final lap. He finished second, earning the first Olympic medal for a U.S. man in the event since 1984.
Hillary Bor finished eighth and Donn Cabral was ninth for the United States.
The women’s 3000m steeplechase competition took place on Monday. Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet won the gold medal by running the second-fastest time ever. Emma Coburn earned the bronze medal, breaking her own American record and becoming the first U.S. woman to stand on an Olympic 3000m steeplechase podium.