Soufiane El Bakkali wins the men's 3000m steeplechase final. GETTY IMAGES

A Soufiane El Bakkali masterclass showed how to control a final in the 3000m steeplechase, after the Moroccan won his second Olympic gold.

The seventh day of athletics at Paris 2024 was eventful. Soufiane El Bakkali was the highlight of the day, particularly in the dramatic 3000m steeplechase final. Despite starting in a comfortable position for the first 2500m, El Bakkali had several competitors ahead of him. However, he remained composed throughout the race.

A significant moment occurred when Ethiopian Lamecha Girma, who was vying for the lead, fell after tripping on a hurdle on the back straight and required medical assistance. This accident disrupted the leading pack, leaving only three athletes in contention for the medals.

Earlier in the day, the inaugural Marathon Race Walking mixed relay took place, with Spaniards Alvaro Martin and Maria Perez claiming victory. Additionally, the men's 5000m race at the Olympic Stadium was filled with excitement and notable performances.

The surprise of the day came from American Kenneth Rooks, who used his last bit of strength to secure the silver medal with a personal best of 8:06.41. The bronze went to Kenya's Abraham Kibiwot, who also achieved a personal best this year with a time of 8:06.47. Additionally, Mohamed Jhinaoui of Tunisia broke the national record, finishing fourth with a time of 8:07.73.



Thrilling discus final with an Olympic record

Lithuania's Mykolas Alekna was the favourite for the discus final. Last April he broke the world record with 74.35m. His goal was to beat his father Virgilijus' Olympic record of 69.89m (Athens 2004), and he did it, but it was not the gold that he took. From the first throw, his sensations looked good. 

He took first in the first throw, and broke the Olympic record in the second. 69.97. But he was under pressure from Australia's Matthew Denny, who threw the discus to 69.31.



The excitement peaked during the fourth throw when Jamaica's Roje Stona made a stunning 70m throw, shattering the Olympic record that had only been set minutes earlier. The atmosphere was electric as there were still two throws remaining.

Despite several strong performances over 68m and 69m, the standings remained unchanged. Stona's unexpected triumph secured him the gold medal, while Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna took silver and USA’s Denzel Denny claimed bronze.

Quincy Hall surprises in the 400m

A very beautiful final. It was a high-level duel between Grenada's Kirani James, triple Olympic medallist at this distance and gold medallist at London 2012, and Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith. It looked like the two of them would be playing for the victory.

James had come from behind and Hudson-Smith was leading going into the final straight. But James ran out of steam and could not get close to the leader, who had the others under control. Except for American Quincy Hall, who made an exceptional straight and began to overtake all his rivals.



Hall's gold medal needed his personal best of 43.40. Hudson-Smith crossed the finish line with a time of 43.44, a new European record. The bronze medal was also a surprise. It went to Zambia's Muzala Samukonga with 43.74, a new national record. Trinidad and Tobago's record also fell with Kareem Richards' 43.78. James came in fifth.

Pole vault gives Australia its first gold in athletics

The final was filled with excitement and dramatic moments, with 19 athletes initially qualifying, prompting an earlier start time. The bar was set at 4.40m, which all competitors cleared. At 4.60m, six athletes were eliminated, and at 4.70m, nine finalists advanced. By 4.80m, only five remained.

The real excitement began when the bar was raised to 4.85m. Czech athlete Amalie Svabikova, who had already set a national record with her 4.80m jump, was unable to clear this height. Switzerland’s Angelica Moser, who had passed all previous heights on her first attempt, missed twice at 4.85m and failed to clear 4.90m in her final attempt.


Canada’s Alysha Newman cleared 4.85m on her second attempt, setting a new national record. American Katie Moon, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold medallist, also cleared 4.85m on her second attempt. Australia’s Nina Kennedy, who shared the gold medal with Moon at the 2023 World Championships, achieved 4.85m on her first attempt.

At 4.90m, Moser used her final allowed miss and failed to clear the height. Newman had three attempts but could not manage it, securing bronze. With only two competitors remaining, Moon missed her first attempt at 4.90m, while Kennedy successfully cleared it on her first try.

Moon had two attempts remaining at 4.95m but was unable to clear the bar, earning silver. Kennedy also missed her attempts at 4.95m but was the only athlete to clear 4.90m, winning gold.