Josh silver as he becomes first Scot ever to win back-to-back Olympic medals

Tuesday 6th August 2024

Paris 2024 Results

Josh Kerr claimed an Olympic medal for the second time in his career in a stunning Men’s 1500m final replete with shock and awe.

American Cole Hocker took gold to leave the Scot with silver and the not inconsiderable consolation of a new British Record at 3:27.79.

Fast finisher Hocker won it by just 14 hundredths of a second with his run of 3:27.65 a new Olympic Record.

Yared Nuguse, another American, came through for bronze – just one hundredth of a second behind Josh at 3:27.80.

Hocker looked shocked and Josh removed his shades with the hint of an ironic smile – but the biggest jaw-dropper of all was previous Olympic Record holder and long-time race leader, Jakob Ingebrigtsen finishing outside the medals in fourth.

Fireworks had been promised and that’s exactly what transpired even if the denouement in the Stade de France featured the United States event more prominently than Norway and Team GB.

As Josh made the podium, Neil Gourley was home in tenth place with his run of 3:30.88 close to his PB.

The Edinburgh AC favourite had spoken repeatedly about his desire to win gold here after two World Championship successes in Budapest (World Champs 1500m) and Glasgow (World Indoors 3000m).

But we have to note that silver for Josh is added to his bronze in Tokyo to make it back-to-back Olympic medals. No other Scot has achieved this in track and field.

That is a stunning achievement in itself and we send our warm congratulations to Josh, his family, his coach and all involved in his development over a number of years at Edinburgh AC.

Eclipsing Mo Farah‘s British Record of 3:28.81 – and with it taking the Scottish Record to a sensational time in a global sense – was simply a consequence of the super fast pace early on set by Ingebrigtsen.

‘I can’t walk away from a championship disappointed,’ said Josh.

‘I said what my goals were and it was pretty obvious but I’ve put out a performance today that I can be super proud of. I ran the fastest and best tactical 1500m of my life and when you start worrying about what other people do from the results, you’ll never be satisfied.

‘It is not the colour of medal I wanted but it’s working towards the right colour . . . (and I have gone)  from bronze to silver.

‘I just want to thank everyone in my team and the family members who supported me to get me in position to leave it all out there and that’s what I did today.

‘I’m 26, this road is not over. I wanted it today, I told you what I wanted and I didn’t get it so there’s going to be that part of me that’s already looking ahead to the next one but I’m really really proud of the way I executed today.

‘It’s left me really hungry and ready for more and I’m just glad I could add another medal to the tally for Team GB.’

Two Scots in the Men’s 1500m final was a marvellous moment again for our endurance pathway.

Josh and Jake Wightman raced in Tokyo so this was actually a double double – the second Olympics in a row with two of our men in the 1500m final.

Jake was tenth in Tokyo and so was Neil on this occasion – with Josh moving up one place.

It was a solid performance from Neil with the Giffnock North AC athlete having feared missing the Olympics through injury only a few months ago.

‘It was incredibly quick from the start, I always knew it was going to be,’ said Neil.

‘I don’t think that was a surprise to anyone.

‘It was aggressive. I tried to hold on for as long as I could, even though I knew I was at my limit. But absolutely I gave it everything to hold on.

‘I died a little bit at the home straight but I don’t regret that part. I’m glad that I tried to hold on. Wish I could have hung on but I spent everything just trying to hang tough.’

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Tags: Josh Kerr, Neil Gourley, Olympics, Paris 2024