Pablo Vazquez stormed to gold in 5:49.03 in the 2000m steeplechase on a day that Spaniards will be hoping to keep winning with the FIFA World Cup final also taking place on Sunday (19).
He took a joint early lead alongside Türkiye’s Abdulsamet Duman, with the pair holding the lead for most of the race.
Despite Duman seemingly having joint control of most of the race, it was Sweden’s Jonas Beutler who took silver in 5:49.51, while the Turk still crossed the line in a PB time of 5:50.07 for bronze.
“Before the race, I thought I could do a very good run, but I did not expect to win,” Vazquez said.
“I managed to execute the race perfectly and one and a half laps to go, I went all out and I knew, I was going to win.
“In Spain, we have a lot of heat, which is what people are most worried about here. But I am from Galicia and it is s bit cooler. On the other hand, it was very hot at the national championships in Spain so I adjusted to that.
“Today, we are going to have a lunch together with my team and celebrate it. Then we will see if Spain wins the FIFA World Cup tonight and we will celebrate it all night.”
After Vazquez and Duman controlled the opening laps, suddenly as the pack crossed the line with three more laps to go, Czechia’s Jakub Pietrula made a move round the outside to take the lead.
The Czech athlete started to string out the tightly packed field, but his reign was short lived as just 300m later he had faded back into the pack with the Spanish and Turkish duo back at the front.
Though this time, Swiss pair Beutler and and Nino Eugster were also following suit as the four started to separate themselves from the rest of the field.
Then as they approached the bell, Vazquez decided it was time to lose the rest of his competitors, starting his surge to gold.
The other three tried to go with him, but Vazquez steadily built a gap between them, but Beutler remained in his tow, following him round for second place.
However, it was heartbreak for the second Swiss athlete, Eugster, who was battling into the final straight with Duman when he hit the ground.
That allowed Duman to storm down the final straight, with the lactic pain showing in his grimace to set a three second PB.
“I cannot believe it,” Beutler said. “All my childhood I have been dreaming about a medal at international championships and I have been working really hard for it.
“Now I am really happy. Nino Eugster [Swiss teammate who placed fifth] and I, we did not have a common race plan, we did not work together. Everyone ran his own race.
“Before the race I was anxious but I managed to calm down. The first two rounds in steeplechase were quite fast, but as it is easy at the beginning we were all together. After that the race got a bit slower.
“Then the Czech and later the Spanish attacked I had to follow them. I had had a good start and stayed in the front group. But then I had to follow the attacks.
“I have a rather good technique at the hurdles. I am a big fan of Soufiane El Bakkali [Moroccan reigning two-time Olympic and two-time world champion]. My coach knows him so I was lucky to get a video from him yesterday where he wished me good luck.”
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