Tokyo World Championships: Beatrice Chebet Remains Queen of the 10,000 m
13/09/2025 17:32Under the scorching Tokyo sun, Beatrice Chebet kicked off the World Athletics Championships like a true leader. The Kenyan Olympic champion and world record holder claimed her first world title over 10,000 m with an irresistible finishing kick. Behind her, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti confirmed her status as a rising star with another silver medal, while Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay salvaged bronze in a thrilling race.
Four years after the pandemic-affected Olympics, Tokyo welcomes the world’s best athletes from September 13 to 21. The women’s 10,000 m opened the first track final of the championships on Saturday afternoon at the National Stadium, featuring a star-studded field rarely seen at this distance. But after 25 laps, only one rocket emerged: Beatrice Chebet.
The 25-year-old Kenyan, Olympic champion and world record holder (28:54.14), reinforced her dominance with a lightning-fast surge in the final straight, finishing in a modest 30:37.61. This first world title rewards a long-distance runner who had mainly specialized in the 5,000 m (winning gold at the Olympics, the Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, and African Championships). Chebet now aims to join legends like Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot by attempting a 5,000 m / 10,000 m double at the World Championships. At 25, Chebet is taking on multiple specialties—and succeeding, for now.
“It was a tough and very tactical race, but I ran the last 800 meters very hard. Tsegay pushed a lot, and I had to keep going. I ran 1,500 m in Silesia, so my mind was like I was in a 1,500 m race. I had to push and keep up, motivate myself, but I wanted this gold medal so badly. I had never won gold at the World Championships, so I convinced myself to get it. It stayed in my mind throughout the race. This title means a lot to me, and I hope it will inspire young athletes. (…) The season has been long, so we’ll close it and go on vacation. Maybe after Los Angeles (the 2028 Olympics), I’ll try the marathon. But for now, I’m sticking to the track.”
Beatrice Chebet, 10,000 m World Champion
| Battocletti Shines Again with Silver
Chebet’s triumph was partly aided by the absence of a major contender. Sifan Hassan, 2019 Doha World Champion over this distance and 2021 Olympic champion in the same Tokyo stadium, was unable to compete, though she announced her participation in the New York Marathon on November 2. This opened the door for Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, who claimed a brilliant second place—mirroring her performance at the last World Championships (national record 30:38.23). At 25, Battocletti stood on the podium alongside Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (30:39.65), who paid for her early acceleration in the final meters.
Beatrice Chebet our World Champion 🇰🇪 🥇
pic.twitter.com/WXZqRMMpiw— ERIC OMONDI (@ericomondi_) September 13, 2025
| A Fiery Start and a Fractured Field
Fueled by the home crowd, Japan’s Ririka Hironaka (6th in 31:09.62) boldly took the lead in the early laps, drawing cheers from the stadium. But the Kenyan strategy soon kicked in. With Agnes Jebet Ngetich and Chebet pushing the pace, the favorites intensified the tempo before mid-race. The result: a shattered pack and several casualties, including medal hopeful Janeth Chepngetich, forced to drop out. Behind them, the Ethiopians—riding high after their 2023 Budapest World Championships podium sweep—stayed grouped with Fotyen Tesfay, Ejgayehu Taye, and reigning world champion Tsegay. Yet only Tsegay could respond to the surges.
| A Sizzling Final Kilometer
Amid this African battle, a European held her own. Battocletti kept close to the leaders from the 5th kilometer. Patient and resilient, she never yielded to Kenyan and Ethiopian accelerations. Like in Budapest two years earlier, she hung on for a final sprint. The race broke open after 9,000 m when Tsegay made a first surge, dropping Taye and raising the tension. Four remained at the front: Chebet, Ngetich, Battocletti, and Tsegay. Chebet bided her time, then launched a decisive kick in the last 200 m. Untouchable, she surged to gold, while Battocletti secured a magnificent silver.
“I’m starting to enjoy silver medals,” joked the Northern Italian long-distance runner in the mixed zone. “This year has been tough, after last year’s Olympics, but I knew I was ready to run fast. It’s really important for a European woman to win a medal in this event with all the African runners. On the last lap, I realized I was a bit too far from the leader. I wanted to go faster in the last 300 meters. Unfortunately, I missed a chance at gold, but I’m proud.”
| Tsegay Takes Bronze Ahead of 5,000 m
At 28, Tsegay had to push hard in the final moments to claim bronze, and she did not hide her joy after a high-caliber 10,000 m. “The World Championships are always very special for me,” said the 2022 world champion. “Getting my fifth medal is incredible. It means a lot, not only for me but for all of Ethiopia. Coming here as reigning world champion was a huge responsibility, and I did everything possible to defend my title. I controlled the race until 9 km, but then I decided to push. It wasn’t a tactical mistake. Physically, I was ready for a fast finish, but the biggest challenge was the weather. Even though I trained in hot conditions, I didn’t expect such high humidity. I did my best, but the other girls were slightly faster at the finish. That’s our sport. It’s amazing and unpredictable.”
Vincent Ngetich, who had been in contention for a long stretch, faltered in the final meters (30:42.66), while Taye (30:55.52) finished much further back. Unless accidents occur in the semifinals, all these distance champions will return next Saturday (14:29) for the 5,000 m final, where the formidable Faith Kipyegon is likely to join the fray.
Dorian VUILLET
Journaliste
