The women’s 1500 meters headlined the fourth day of the IAAF World Championships in track and field, and it was a worthy main event for the London crowd. Great Britain’s Laura Muir led the pack through the first 800 meters at 2:17, at which point the race turned into a sprint.
Sifan Hassan, the bronze medalist in the event two years ago, ran from last place into the lead. But Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the defending Olympic champion, and American Jenny Simpson were right with her. Meanwhile, Caster Semenya lurked just behind.
The last lap was the best lap of these championships so far. (Jenny Meadows said it was one of the best races she’d ever seen!) Hassan and Kipyegon got a healthy lead on everyone, then both started to break down on the final stretch, and the rest of the pack surged. Kipyegon held on for first place in 4:02.59, Jenny Simpson took second, and Semenya beat out Muir for third.
But it appeared Simpson didn’t realize she took silver until Laura Weightman pointed it out to her, as you can see above. Then she decided to sprint across the track for a celebration that lasted nearly 30 seconds—after running 1500 meters in just more than four minutes.
Her post-race celebration was made all the better because of what happened when Simpson won the 1500 meters back at the 2011 World Championships; winning on a late kick, she reacted like she had no idea she’d just won the world title.
Her celebrations have gotten better in the six years since.