Geordie Beamish kissed the ground at Tokyo’s National Stadium and shook his head in disbelief.
The Kiwi steeplechaser had just produced one of the biggest upsets at this year’s World Athletics Championships, stunning 3000m steeplechase defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali to win gold in 8:33.88 on Monday (15 September).
Morocco’s two-time Olympic champion appeared to have the race locked up as he approached the finish line. But he did not see Beamish charging from behind until it was too late.
The New Zealander surged past him in the final strides, snatching the world title by just 0.07 seconds.
El Bakkali had to settle for silver (8:33.95).
Beamish was already the talk of the athletics worlds on Saturday after a dramatic fall in the heats. The former world indoor champion took a tumble over a barrier on the final lap. Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnés went down with him. A photo later shows how his running shoe is making contact with Beamish’s face.