New Zealand's George Beamish produced a stunning finish to win the men's 3000m steeplechase gold at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, marking the country's first outdoor track world championships medal. The 28-year-old from Hastings overcame a fall in his heat and a hip injury to upset defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali in a dramatic final.
Beamish, who also won the 1500m gold at the 2024 World Indoor Championships, had struggled with injuries over the past two years, including ankle and leg problems that kept him off the track for two months. He failed to make the final at the Paris Olympics last year. However, his recovery from a heat fall, where he was clipped by another runner's spikes, gave him confidence in his fitness.
In the final, Beamish chased El Bakkali and Japanese star Ryuji Miura on the last lap. With 150m to go, he passed Miura and set his sights on the Moroccan, who had a 10-metre lead at the final barrier. Beamish surged after the last hurdle, closing the gap in the final 50 metres to win by a stretch at the line.
Reflecting on his victory, Beamish said: 'I made headlines for all the wrong reasons two days ago, but I'm making some new headlines today.' He credited his support team and his desire to keep showing up despite the sport's challenges. The win came as Armand Duplantis set a pole vault world record, overshadowing Beamish's achievement.
