2003 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 5000 metres

None The Men's 5000 metres event at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in Paris, France on Sunday 31 August 2003 at 18:40h. There were a total number of 29 participating athletes, with two qualifying heats held prior to the final. Eliud Kipchoge won the race, followed by the Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele. The race has received enduring attention because the three medalists–– Kipchoge, El Guerrouj, and Bekele–– are often considered among the greatest runners in history.Gault Jonathan A Look Back at a Race for the Ages: Kipchoge Takes Down Bekele & El Guerrouj at the 2003 World Championships https://www.letsrun.com/news/2017/09/lrc-classics-eliud-kipchoge-takes-kenenisa-bekele-el-guerrouj-2003-world-championships/ 2024-05-12 LetsRun.com en The winning margin was 0.04 seconds which as of 2024 remains the only time the men's 5,000 metres was won by less than 0.1 seconds at these championships. Summary The competitors for the race included the 1500 meter champion/world record holder, Hicham El Guerrouj and the 10,000 meter champion Kenenisa Bekele. This was considered a meeting ground half way. From the start, Bekele took the race out to let his endurance burn off the faster opponent. El Guerrouj immediately marked his move. Also along for the ride were two more Ethiopians and a pack of four Kenyans, including defending champion Richard Limo. While the group broke away from the field, the fast early pace slowed. With two laps to go, it was El Guerrouj who took out the lead. The next lap burnt off a couple of Ethiopians but the Kenyans were all there with Bekele, still in contact with El Guerrouj. As the final lap quickened, world junior record holder, eighteen year old Eliud Kipchoge rode on El Guerrouj's shoulder, with Bekele chasing in third. El Guerrouj opened up a gap of 3 metres down the back stretch, with Bekele gaining on Kipchoge, the rest of the Kenyan team strung out behind. Challenged by Bekele, Kipchoge accelerated through the turn, moving up to El Guerrouj's shoulder. With Bekele moving onto Kipchoge's shoulder, it was three abreast coming off the turn and John Kibowen tailing closely behind. El Guerrouj accelerated again but Kipchoge didn't go away. On the outside Bekele made up some ground, the three separated by a metre. But El Guerrouj and Kipchoge were dead even. As Bekele couldn't make up any more ground, Kipchoge gained a few inches on El Guerrouj. Over the last few steps, El Guerrouj struggled and lost his form, trying to make a desperate dive at the line, but it was too little too late. The final lap was 53 seconds. By this point in time, none of the three medalists had achieved an Olympic gold medal, though ultimately all three would. The same three would match up the following year in the 2004 Olympics with El Guerrouj taking gold, Bekele silver, and Kipchoge bronze. Analysis The race has captured the attention of many fans of Track and Field because it featured a matchup between athletes who had set or would go on to set world records in multiple distances. The first-place finisher in the race, Eliud Kipchoge, went on to hold the world record in the marathon from 2018 to 2023 and to win two Olympic gold medalists in the marathon. Hicham El Guerrouj, the second-place finisher, set world records in the 1500 metres and mile, while the third-place finisher, Kenenisa Bekele, set world records in the 5000 metres and 10000 metres.Sports Pulse 2023-07-14 Eliud Kipchoge's 2003 exploits make it to list of 40 greatest World Championships moments https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/athletics/story/eliud-kipchoges-2003-exploits-make-it-to-list-of-40-greatest-world-championships-moments-2023071412403563135 2024-05-05 Pulse Sports Kenya enTurnbull Simon 2023-08-31 Two decades since Kipchoge defied all predictions in Paris News Heritage World Athletics https://worldathletics.org/heritage/news/kipchoge-bekele-el-guerrouj-paris-2003-5000 2024-05-05 worldathletics.org The three legends — one present, two future — battled for 50 meters, El Guerrouj in lane 1, Kipchoge in lane 2, and Bekele a little further removed in lane 3. It became evident midway down the home straight that [Bekele] was outmatched in this kick. Johnathon Gault, writing for LetsRun.com Final RANKFINALTIMEImage:Med 1.pngEliud Kipchoge KEN12:52.79 Image:Med 2.pngHicham El Guerrouj MAR12:52.83Image:Med 3.pngKenenisa Bekele ETH 199612:53.124.John Kibowen KEN12:54.075.Abraham Chebii KEN12:57.746.Gebregziabher Gebremariam ETH 199612:58.087.Richard Limo KEN13:01.138.Zersenay Tadese ERI13:05.579.Juan Carlos de la Ossa ESP13:21.0410.Abderrahim Goumri MAR13:23.6711.Abiyote Abate ETH 199613:23.8112.Alejandro Suárez MEX13:24.5113.Christian Belz SUI13:26.0214.Moukheld Al-Outaibi KSA13:38.9215.Jorge Torres USA13:43.37 Heats Held on Thursday 28 August 2003 RANKHEAT 1TIME1.Kenenisa Bekele ETH 199613:38.032.Eliud Kipchoge KEN13:38.733.John Kibowen KEN13:40.724.Abderrahim Goumri MAR13:42.095.Juan Carlos de la Ossa ESP13:42.236.Zersenay Tadese ERI13:42.417.Boniface Kiprop UGA13:42.888.Salah Hissou MAR13:44.279.Erik Sjöqvist SWE13:55.8910.Khoudir Aggoune ALG13:56.4111.Yawo Kloutse TOG14:45.85—Fabiano Joseph Naasi TANDNS—Michael Aish NZLDNS—Cathal Lombard IRLDNS RANKHEAT 2TIME1.Gebregziabher Gebremariam ETH 199613:32.462.Abraham Chebii KEN13:32.543.Richard Limo KEN13:32.824.Hicham El Guerrouj MAR13:32.885.Abiyote Abate ETH 199613:33.246.Moukheld Al-Outaibi KSA13:33.917.Christian Belz SUI13:36.548.Alejandro Suárez MEX13:41.979.Jorge Torres USA13:42.4210.Abdulhak Elgorche Zakaria BHR13:44.1511.Hassan Mourhit BEL14:09.1412.Eduardo Buenavista PHI14:12.55—Ahmad Hassan Abdullah QATDNS—Kamiel Maase NEDDNS—John Yuda Msuri TANDNS See also Athletics at the 2003 Pan American Games - Men's 5000 metres References H Category:5000 metres at the World Athletics Championships