Amid a priceless reaction of shock and pride, Kyle Hocker was seen mouthing “what the f—k,” as his son emerged from the middle of the pack with a huge final push, flying past the forecasted frontrunners Josh Kerr of Britain and Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigsten.
Ingebrigsten, the 2021 gold medalist in Tokyo, led for a majority of the race, but Hocker and Kerr pushed to the front during a tight-knit final lap around the purple track.
Kerr was ahead of the pack in the final stretch, but the Indianapolis native surged past him in the adjacent lane.
Hocker clocked in at 3:37.65, setting a new Olympic record and a career best by nearly three seconds.
Kyle Hocker was seen mouthing “what the f–k,” as his son Cole Hocker made a final push to win the men’s 1500-meter race on August 6, 2024. X @NBCSports
Cole Hocker’s family celebrates his come-from-behind gold medal win in the men’s 1500-meter race on August 6, 2024. X @NBCSports The overhead view of Cole Hocker winning. AP
While the 23-year-old’s finish had nearly everyone, including his own family, in total disbelief, American fans erupted in excitement.
“This may be an upset to a lot of people, but if you’ve been following my season, you knew I was capable of it,” Hocker, who earned the silver at the 2024 World Championships, told reporters. “But still, things had to go my way today.
Kerr finished second, and Ingebrigsten came in fourth, shy of medal contention.
Team USA notched two medals in the event, as Hocker’s compatriot Yared Nuguse finished third for bronze.
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