Ingebrigtsen equals Gebrselassie's record with historic distance double at World Indoors
Jakob Ingebrigtsen achieved a remarkable golden double by winning the men's 1,500 meters title on the concluding day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships on Sunday, just one day after securing the 3,000 meters championship.
His victory, clocked at three minutes and 38.79 seconds, allowed Ingebrigtsen to replicate the accomplishment of the legendary Ethiopian athlete Haile Gebrselassie, who also achieved this double at the 1999 indoor championships in Maebashi, Japan.
The 24-year-old Ingebrigtsen had prepared for this global event with a similar performance at the European indoor championships in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, earlier this month.
"Of course this is something special," said Ingebrigtsen.
"It's very difficult to compare yourself against history and what others are doing. I'm only focusing on myself and feel good to have done a lot of preparations, and that was the main goal.
"It's not to do with something somebody else did before. I think I can do more, so I'll try to maximise that and grab the opportunity given to me."
The champion of the Olympic 5,000m event faced little resistance after seizing the lead midway through the race, successfully fending off Britain's Neil Gourley, who secured the silver medal with a time of 3:39.07, while American Luke Houser earned the bronze in 3:39.17.
In the women's 1,500m race, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay established a championship record of 3:54.86 as she claimed the title, finishing ahead of her fellow countrywoman Diribe Welteji, who finished in 3:59.30. Britain's Georgia Hunter Bell rounded out the podium with a time of 3:59.84.
"It wasn't an easy race, this was a fast time, so I'm very happy about that," Tsegay said.
"It was my training that led to this."
Devynne Charlton from the Bahamas demonstrated her superiority in the women's 60m hurdles, finishing with a season-best time of 7.72 seconds to successfully defend her title.
In second place, Switzerland's Ditaji Kambundji secured the silver medal with a time of 7.73 seconds, while Jamaica's Ackera Nugent earned the bronze with a time of 7.74 seconds.
American Claire Bryant produced a personal best of 6.96 metres to win the women's long jump gold in the morning session at Nanjing's Cube. Switzerland's Annik Kalin was second with 6.83m and Spain's Fatima Diame finished third with 6.72m.
"If someone had told me that I would walk away from Nanjing with the title, I would thank them for that vote of confidence," said the 23-year-old Bryant.
"I didn't come in with expectations, I just wanted to enjoy the moment. Every part of this is so cool. I woke up at 4.45 a.m. this morning, I felt like it was Christmas morning and I knew there was something waiting for me.
"You can always surprise yourself in track, and I think that's what's so great about this sport. Seven metres is coming, for sure."
Australia achieved a remarkable one-two finish in the women's high jump, with Nicola Olyslagers successfully defending her title by clearing a height of 1.97m, winning on countback over Eleanor Patterson.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, the world record holder, secured a place on the podium with a jump of 1.95m, surpassing Serbia's Angelina Topic on countback.
In the men's heptathlon, Sander Skotheim, a compatriot of Ingebrigtsen, secured the gold medal with a commendable performance, finishing ahead of Estonia's Johannes Erm and Germany's Till Steinforth.
In the men's 800m, American Josh Hoey claimed his first world indoor title with a time of 1:44.77, while South Africa's Prudence Sekgodiso won the women's event with a world-leading time of 1:58.40.
SportsLigue