Key Takeaways:
- Grant Fisher won bronze in the 5000m at the 2024 Paris Olympics
- This is Fisher’s second bronze medal of the Games, after also placing third in the 10,000m
- Fisher becomes the first American man to medal in both the 5000m and 10,000m in a single Olympics
- The Grand Blanc, Michigan native finished with a time of 13:15.13
Grant Fisher Secures Historic Double Bronze in Paris
American distance runner Grant Fisher etched his name in the Olympic history books with a remarkable performance in the men’s 5000m final at the 2024 Paris Games. The 27-year-old from Grand Blanc, Michigan claimed his second bronze medal of the Olympics, matching his third-place finish in the 10,000m from earlier in the competition.
A Thrilling Finish
Fisher’s path to the podium was far from straightforward. With just over 200 meters remaining in the race, he found himself in eighth position, seemingly out of contention for a medal. However, the former Stanford standout unleashed a blistering final lap, surging past five competitors in the closing stages.
His late charge saw him overtake Dominic Lokinyomo Lobalu of the Refugee Olympic Team in the final 10 meters, securing the bronze by a mere nine-hundredths of a second. Fisher crossed the finish line with a time of 13:15.13, narrowly behind Kenya’s Ronald Kwemoi (13:15.04) who took silver.
Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen claimed gold with a time of 13:13.66, pulling away from the field on the last lap to redeem himself after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the 1500m earlier in the week.
Making American History
Fisher’s double bronze medal performance marks a significant milestone for U.S. distance running. He becomes the first American man to medal in both the 5000m and 10,000m at a single Olympic Games. This achievement highlights Fisher’s versatility and cements his status as one of the top distance runners in the world.
The feat is even more impressive considering the historical context. Fisher is the first American to medal in the 10,000m since Galen Rupp’s silver in London 2012. In the 5000m, he follows in the footsteps of Paul Chelimo, who won silver in Rio 2016 and bronze in Tokyo 2020.
A Steady Rise to the Top
Fisher’s journey to Olympic success has been one of consistent improvement. At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he finished ninth in the 5000m and fifth in the 10,000m. He showed progress at the 2022 World Championships, moving up to sixth in the 5000m and fourth in the 10,000m.
His collegiate career at Stanford University laid the foundation for his current success. Fisher was a 12-time All-American and won the NCAA 5000m title during his sophomore year, becoming the first underclassman in 28 years to achieve that feat.
With two Olympic bronze medals now in his collection, Fisher has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in global distance running. At 27 years old, he likely has several more years of competition at the highest level ahead of him.
The next major challenge for Fisher will be the 2025 World Athletics Championships, where he’ll aim to convert his Olympic success into world championship medals. Beyond that, the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics loom on the horizon, offering Fisher a chance to compete for gold on home soil.
Fisher’s historic double bronze in Paris serves as inspiration for the next generation of American distance runners and cements his place among the country’s all-time greats in track and field.