Kerr and Ingebrigtsen ‘destroy each other’ as Hocker rips up script

“They both tried to destroy each other. And in destroying each other, Cole Hocker stepped up.”

BBC Sport commentator and former world champion Steve Cram’s verdict on an epic men’s 1500m final was straight to the point.

All the talk, all the build-up and excitement had been about Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen versus world champion Josh Kerr.

Sharp tongues and heart-stopping races created a thrilling rivalry, and one was expected to take the glory on the purple track in Paris.

The race was as exciting as everyone had predicted, except that no one handed the script to Hocker, the one with the ponytail.

“I told myself that I’m in this race too,” said the 23-year-old American. “If they let me fly under the radar, so be it.”

As it turned out, Hocker flew to an Olympic gold medal and stunned the Stade de France.

“I ruined it for myself”

Ingebrigtsen’s scorched earth strategy, apparently aimed at ensuring his rial was nowhere near him in the final straight, backfired and he finished fourth. Kerr took silver and Yared Nuguse bronze.

After crossing the line, the impassive-faced Norwegian shook his head in disbelief at what had happened.

She lost her Olympic crown and not even a silver or bronze as consolation.

“I opened with a lap of 54 seconds,” said Ingebrigtsen.

“That wasn’t the plan at all. I was going at least two seconds faster. I was thinking about slowing down, but on the next lap I was going almost at the same speed.

“I ruined everything by trying too hard.”

It is a harsh assessment from the Norwegian, and one that will only fuel suggestions he appeared bewildered by successive World Championship defeats at the hands of Kerr and his Great Britain team-mate Jake Wightman.

His eagerness to leave everyone weakening left his legs weak when it mattered most.

Former marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe told BBC One that “Ingebrigtsen was a bit nervous”.

Perhaps he played the only card he thought he had.

“He has no choice but to flee,” said BBC Radio 5 Live commentator Allison Curbishley.

“He had to make it difficult and take the sprint out of everyone else’s hands, but unfortunately for him, everyone else knows that and has trained for it.

“They know he can be defeated.”

Briton Kerr feels “very proud”

While Ingebrigtsen may be going back to the drawing board after a sobering night, Kerr will have plenty of mixed emotions.

He had trained like a demon and had sacrificed a lot in order to get the gold.

He even made a trip to the Stade de France at Christmas and made his way into the grand stadium to try and photograph the moment of victory.

Poised for glory as he charged down the stretch, his legs tired and Hocker slipped inside.

Silver won’t have the same shine, but when you get to the final and run faster than ever, set a British record, break the previous Olympic record and stand on the podium, it’s hard to feel too down.

“I can’t come away from a championship disappointed,” said Kerr, who became the first Scot to win track medals at more than one Games.

“I said what my goals were, it was pretty obvious, but today I put in a performance that I’m extremely proud of.

“I focused on what I could control and ran the tactical 1500m best and fastest I have ever done in my life.”

At 26, Kerr will hope to achieve a better result in Los Angeles in 2028 and complete her Olympic team.

Bronze in Tokyo, silver in Paris, gold in Los Angeles. Sounds great.

But the next thing on his mind, he says, is to drink a couple of pints, having given up alcohol during his Olympic journey.

“It would be amazing to win gold in Los Angeles, but I’m confident in myself as a medallist at all but one championship in the last four years,” Kerr added.

“I’ve been consistent at this level and I’ll get the medal I want at the end of my career. It wasn’t today, but it was a big step in the right direction.”

However, the last word is for Hocker, a man who was talked about very few in the build-up to the match, who played at the crucial moment and caused a great stir.

That’s why we love sport.

“It’s an incredible feeling,” said the American.

“I felt like the stadium and God were carrying me. My body did what it had to do. My mind was there and I saw the finish line.

“Winning gold was my goal all year. I wrote it down and repeated it to myself even though I didn’t believe it.

“I knew I was a medal contender and that if I did well, I would get a gold medal.”