WOW! In an All-Time Great Olympic 1500, Cole Hocker Steals the Show—and Stuns the World

As Ingebrigtsen moved wide heading out of the final turn, Kerr began to challenge, eventually passing on the outside. But that left the rail free to Hocker to unleash his kick, and he did, catching Kerr by surprise in the final meters.

Meanwhile, Nuguse was quietly gaining ground behind Kerr, and nearly outleaned him for silver. American Hobbs Kessler, 21, also had an incredible race, finishing fifth in a personal best 3:29.45.

Hocker, the U.S. Olympic Trials champion, made the Olympic final in this event in Tokyo, where he placed sixth. Earlier this year, he won silver in the 1500 meters at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

“Winning gold was my goal this entire year,” Hocker said after the race. “I wrote that down and I repeated it to myself even if I didn’t believe it. My performances showed me that I was capable of running 3:27, whatever it took. I knew I was a medal contender, and I knew that if I get it right, it would be a gold medal. I’ve been saying that.”

Cindy is a freelance health and fitness writer, author, and podcaster who’s contributed regularly to Runner’s World since 2013. She’s the coauthor of both Breakthrough Women’s Running: Dream Big and Train Smart and Rebound: Train Your Mind to Bounce Back Stronger from Sports Injuries, a book about the psychology of sports injury from Bloomsbury Sport. Cindy specializes in covering injury prevention and recovery, everyday athletes accomplishing extraordinary things, and the active community in her beloved Chicago, where winter forges deep bonds between those brave enough to train through it.