OK What has Jimmy G done differently?

Hot take, but it’s because both were weak finals. Both the 5000/10000m became 400m last lap sprints. Sure, the 5000 was quicker through 3k but they let up until the bell. That would allow others with superior accelerations to just zoom by on the last lap. I doubt Gressier would win the 10k if it were ran like last year.

I was writing about the 10,000 but that 5,000 time is not spectacular anymore and wouldn't likely have required any big change in training for him. But again, I don't know what he does and he could have changed something. And the comment about stricter drug testing would apply across all events.

baking soda and Nomio

The answer is simple: the race was a walkathon until the last few laps and he was the fastest 1500m guy in the bunch. I was watching his face and for much of the latter parts he's expression was of a guy who knew he was being handed a winning lottery ticket. It was not so much luck as it was poor judgement on the behalf of the other prospective medalist.

The 10k was relatively slow. The 5k was decent, and again, the African men and the male competitors in general were under more scrutiny in terms of some officials finally trying to catch drug cheats.

Preparation meets opportunity. He was able to make the most of his opportunities by being prepared.

I think his sub 60' solo race in Leuven at the European Road Champs was more impressive, was a fairly hard course, and he was on European record pace until the last 2k (which was all uphill).

Maybe this guy was peaking at the right time, got a surprise win in the Diamond League final 3000m which gave him confidence for the 10,000m and Tokyo and winning that one gave him even more confidence for the 5000m.

So he improved his 1500m by over a second. What did he do in training to achieve this?

Grant Fisher also had a big jump in 1500m ability. 3:34 PB going into this year then 3:48 mile at Prefontaine. Grant seemed to peak a lot worse than Jimmy did. Positioning and race tactics were surely a factor as well. But with Grand Slam, there was clearly an emphasis by Fisher this year to improve his kicking ability to medal. Nico Young talked about this in interviews too. He was also focused on improving his speed. Also goes to show how hard it is to medal. How hard it is to get the tactics right. Some of it’s just luck.

Lots of valid responses in this thread about le Boulonnais. I would add that the culture of track and field (Athletisme) has ramped up in France through the last olympic cycle with the national governing body (FFA) providing more support to their elite athletes and a general push towards making the sport more popular in general. The school systems are starting to implement organized sports programs in the curriculum for kids and the club sport enrollment season is being heavily promoted. That sweet Kiprun contract that Jimmy got doesnt hurt either. There is a bit of a running boom going on in France. I'm retired here, running in the MF6 division, and over the past couple of years, I've observed that the bigger road races fill up very quickly now. Small, local running clubs are booming and supporting youth development in track and field/XC. I would bet we will see more from French athletes moving forward. Runamook - île de France

....

Exactly that's 90% of it, 5% luck, and 5 % we have no proof 😁.

Switched to Kiprun, got away from the pernicious losers at Nike, became World Champion. Easy

Have you considered that Fisher´s outdoor season didn´t match his indoor season?

Some times Fisher is far from his best (see the 3000m WR attack last year in Silesia).

Great comment. It's called progression and looking to be as well rounded as possible. It's Odira's performances in the 800m we should be questioning, not Jimmy!

Yes, Fisher clearly wasn’t at his best in Tokyo. That doesn’t explain how Gressier leveled up.

I like how even when white people cheat it is the brown man's fault

It's hilarious how some people here want to suggest that Gressier is doping but then when they talk about Hocker or Nuguse (Hint: it's the same situation), they pretend like they are squeaky clean.

Has it occured to you that he has improved since the earlier 5000m races he has competed in?

Gressier came to running from soccer in his mid teens (age 17?) so it is natural that he should have some time to develop his endurance when he among others was facing a certain Norwegian runner who has started much earlier.

But G has been a top runner on the European level from his teens placing 4th x2 in U20 Xcountry (beating such runners as Kerr, Alex Yee (gold medalist in OG 2021 in triathlon). I.Fontes (finalist in the OG 2021 1500m) and Adrian Ben (no. 8 in this year´s 1500m final in Tokyo). In 2026 only beaten by J.I., Yoh. Chiapenelli (6th in the 2025 Tokyo WC Marathon) and British Mah. Mah. (2:07 in the marathon).

In the U23 category he won 3 straight Euro XC as pointed out by others AND a 10000m and 5000m double (the 5000m run 2 days after the 10000m).

In his first senior euro XC he placed 3 after JI and a Tyrkish/ Kenyan runner who has since been busted.

You are stating that he never has shown sprinter abilities in international 5000m races (WC, OG and Euros).

Before 2025 he has only run the Budapest 5000m final where he placed 6 after a VERY fast last 1000m. And the 2024 OG 5000m where he didn´t qualify for the final. HE HAS NEVER RUN A SENIOR EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP 5000m.

So OF ALL THOSE RACES YOU ARE POINTING AT: In reality he has only run 1 international 5000M final before 2025. That seems to be a very narrow material to generalize from?!

----------------

As pointed out by others: Gressier has improved well starting already early this season, he seems to have peaked well for the Worlds AND he ran some very good tactical races both in the 10000m and the 5000m.

Opposite Fisher and Young who didn´t seem to bring their best shape to Tokyo and who at least in the 10000m almost ran themselves into the ground.

Correction: In 2016 only beaten by JI............

I think he is good, was fit at the right time, ran well in steamy conditions, and it was a weaker field than normal.

Everyone’s PBs are inflated with super shoes, the double T/ lactate training has elevated the western world. But no top Ugandans, Kenyan does do track for the men anymore it seems.

slow races, no Jakob.

“half of success is showing up”