Cole Hocker Had Legendary Kick to Win Improbable Gold Medal in 1500-Meter Race

Tom Dierberger | Aug 6, 2024

Josh Kerr (GBR) races Cole Hocker (USA) in the men's 1500-meter semifinals during the 2024 Olympic Summer Games at Stade de France in Paris. / James Lang-USA TODAY Sports

Cole Hocker saved the best race of his life for track and field's biggest stage.

Competing in the men's 1500-meter final at the 2024 Olympic Games at Stade de France, Hocker was locked in a tight battle with the race's favorites to win in Josh Kerr (Great Britain) and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Norway) while taking the final turn.

Hocker tried to pass Ingebrigtsen on the inside but was denied, so he reset and tried it again on the final stretch. Hocker passed Ingebrigtsen and outpaced Kerr in the final few strides to win the gold medal in his second career Olympic Games.

WOW. 😱

A STUNNING upset in the men’s 1500m as AMERICAN COLE HOCKER takes gold! #ParisOlympics pic.twitter.com/wlq81lbvSO

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 6, 2024

Hocker closed out the final 300 meters in 39.6 seconds and the final 100 meters in 13.0 seconds, just ahead of Kerr (40.1 seconds; 13.2 seconds) and well ahead of Ingebrigtsen (40.9 seconds; 13.8 seconds). He crossed the finish line in 3:27.65, good for a new Olympic record.

Fellow American Yared Nuguse claimed the bronze medal, making it two Team USA men's athletes on the Olympic podium in the 1500-meter race for the first time since 1912.

Hocker's ferocious kick had the track and field world fired up:

That was an amazing 1500! Cole Hocker you Got me screaming my head off!

— Noah Lyles, OLY (@LylesNoah) August 6, 2024

AMERICA!! 🇺🇸

Let’s check in on Team USA during that epic men’s 1500m final.

Cole Hocker is your GOLD medalist. 🥇 pic.twitter.com/QDpmzUU2Jq

— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) August 6, 2024

Somebody check on Ben Thomas 💝
@cole_hocker’s coach since his freshman year at Oregon was in the stands for his star pupil’s Olympic 1500m victory. Talk about a moment to remember. 🥲 pic.twitter.com/qFYgECITVE

— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) August 6, 2024

Cole Hocker might've just pulled off one of the best upsets at these Olympics. Gold and the olympic record in the men's 1500m, when no thought he would do it.

What a race!

— Dominic Campbell (@DOMISMONEY) August 6, 2024

USA VS THE WORLD pic.twitter.com/RWDUI2RuYh

— Mac Fleet (@macfleet1) August 6, 2024

Hocker, an Indianapolis native, ran track for the Oregon Ducks from 2019 to '21. He placed sixth in the 1500-meter race at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.