Johnathan Walker:Cole Hocker shocks the world to win gold in men's 1,500

SAINT-DENIS,Johnathan Walker France − In a stunning win, Team USA's Cole Hocker not only took the gold medal Tuesday in the men's 1,500-meter race at the Stade de France at the Paris Olympics, but broke the Olympic record in doing so with a time of 3:27.65.

World champion Josh Kerr of Britain won silver with a time of 3:27.79, and American Yared Nuguse took the bronze with a personal best 3:27.80. Hocker came from behind with a blistering pace over the final stretch to overtake Kerr and break the Olympic record of 3:28.32 previously set at the Tokyo Games in 2021 by Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

"With 100 meters to go, I knew I had enough," Hocker said. "I haven't seen the race replay or anything, but I saw Jakob, I feel like he was thinking about Kerr and started drifting out, and I thought I'd take advantage of that and try to punch that inside, which I've been able to do a couple times in my career. He's a smart enough racer where he closed that down immediately, so I had to reassess. It was special to be able to attack not only once, but twice."

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Hocker is just the fourth American to win an Olympic gold medal in the 1,500.

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The race had been billed as a showdown between Kerr and the confidently outspoken Ingebrigtsen, who not only saw his Olympic record fall, but was overtaken late in the race by the American Nuguse for the bronze, and faded to fourth.

It was Hocker, however, who overtook them all.

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"I was staying relaxed, and with 150 (meters) to go, I've never heard a crowd like that. At that point I really didn't feel anything and I just went," Hocker added. "It felt like another race in terms of kicking by people. I've done it, I feel like, countless times in my career so far. And this time it just happened to be against the Olympic champion (Ingebrigtsen) and the world champion (Kerr)."

Ingebrigtsen opened an early lead and held it through the first 1,200 meters. That's when Hocker, who was in fourth place with just 300 meters left, made his big move for the upset and historic Olympic glory.

"(Kerr and Ingebrigtsen) have had all the added pressure and all the added noise," Hocker added. "I think that's part of this job is blocking out that noise, and it gets harder and harder the more you excel, and I'm sure that'll change after today. ... I've been able to fly under the radar for this meet, but I'm sure I won't anymore."

Team USA's Hobbs Kessler finished fifth with a personal best 3:29.45.

Reach Tuscaloosa News columnist Chase Goodbread at [email protected]. Follow on X @chasegoodbread.

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