One week after winning silver in the 10,000m, Italy’s Nadia Battocletti claimed a brilliant bronze in the 5000m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Saturday (20).
In a thrilling battle with Kenya’s 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon, 10,000m winner Beatrice Chebet, and Ethiopia’s 2022 champion Gudaf Tsegay, the Italian bravely took on the pace with 500 metres to go and led through to the back straight on the final lap.
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At that point, Kipyegon and Chebet surged past. But Battocletti stuck to her task, holding on to the leading duo as Tsegay began to fade around the final bend.
Chebet ran clear to take gold in 14:54.36, with Kipyegon securing silver in 14:55.07 and Battocletti clinching bronze in 14:55.42.
More medals for Italian
For the Italian, it was yet another major championships medal.
Since winning the 5000m/10,000m double at last year’s Roma 2024 European Athletics Championships, she has added 10,000m silver at the Paris Olympics, gold at the Antalya 2024 SPAR European Cross Country Championships, and gold in the 10km at the European Running Championships in Brussels-Leuven—before her latest success in Tokyo.
Looking forward to gold
"It was hard race because I was bit tired after winning silver over 10,000m, but all my main rivals were feeling the same," said the Italian afterwards.
"Faith (Kipyegon) did five races, while Beatrice (Chebet) and me did three. We have to be well recovered for a performance like tonight. I said to my coach yesterday that I wanted to run at the front and take a little bit of a risk.
"But it was a really tactical race. When I was on the 4200m mark I saw the American girls next to me and I understood that all my rivals were waiting for me, wanting to know my next step.
"With 500m to go I said to myself, 'OK, you're still in front and you have to push, if you don't want to lose the medal.' This time it was bronze but I am really looking forward to getting the gold one day. Maybe I should have a stronger mentality and do things step by step."