World Athletics Championships 2023: Ben Pattison wins bronze medal in 800m

Posted : 26 August 2023

In a surprising turn of events on his World Championships debut, Britain's Ben Pattison secured a remarkable bronze medal in the 800m race. Crossing the finish line in just 1 minute 44.83 seconds, the 21-year-old's disbelief was palpable as he earned a place on the podium.

Walking around the track with the British flag draped over his shoulders, Pattison held his hands to his head, still coming to terms with his unexpected achievement. The gold medal went to Canada's Marco Arop with a time of 1:44.24, while Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi claimed silver with 1:44.53 in Budapest.

This victory made Pattison the first British man to earn a world 800m medal since Peter Elliott's accomplishment in Rome back in 1987. Notably, Pattison was one of only two athletes in the final not to have previously run under 44 seconds in this distance.

Employing his signature quick finish, Pattison strategically maneuvered to find an opening on the inside and managed to secure his place in history with a memorable first global medal. This achievement contributed to Great Britain's total of six medals at the championships, with Keely Hodgkinson poised to contend for gold in the women's final.

Pattison's journey to this triumph included a personal best time of 1:44.02 at the London Diamond League in July, which met the world standard. His personal best ranked him as the 13th fastest 800m runner in the world for the 2023 championships and the third-fastest among British athletes.

Despite his initial disbelief, Pattison's placement was confirmed, and he proudly held a British flag while celebrating with an exuberant smile. Reflecting on his achievement, he shared his disbelief and humorously stated, "I don't know why you're interviewing me... I can't think of anything to say!"

Describing his race strategy, Pattison mentioned the slow first lap that suited his strengths, and in the final 100 meters, he realized his medal potential and pushed himself relentlessly to the finish line. He described the race as a battle of determination and proclaimed, "I've got a medal here."

As the competition continued, the British men's 4x400m relay team, featuring Lewis Davey, Charlie Dobson, Rio Mitcham, and Alex Haydock-Wilson, secured a spot in the final with a third-place finish in the heats. The women's relay team, composed of Laviai Nielsen, Amber Anning, Nicole Yeargin, and Yemi Mary John, won their heat as well after the USA's disqualification due to a baton exchange outside the changeover area.

Lastly, Faith Kipyegon made history by becoming the first athlete to win both the 1500m and 5,000m races at a World Championships. The Kenyan athlete, who holds the world record, triumphed over the longer distance with a time of 14:53.88, surpassing Dutch bronze medalist Sifan Hassan's time of 14:54.11.

World Athletics Championships 2023: Ben Pattison wins bronze medal in 800m

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