Stadium speaker sees son take gold at 1,500 meters at World Athletics Championships NOW

In the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, Jake Wightman became world champion in the 1,500 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene under special circumstances. The Brit surprisingly took gold, while his father and coach Geoff Wightman was the stadium speaker.

“Yeah, that’s my son,” said a proud Geoff Wightman, as his son lay exhausted on the track as the winner at Hayward Field Stadium. He was then hugged by the other speakers.

Geoff Wightman, 61, was a professional athlete himself in the 1980s and early 1990s. He once participated in a European Championship as a marathon runner.

Now, in addition to his son’s coach, he has also been a stadium speaker for years at major athletics events such as Diamond League matches and therefore also this World Cup.

‘I am the proudest mother in the world’

In Eugene, Geoff Wightman saw his son Jake Wightman deliver the greatest achievement of his career to date. The 28-year-old athlete was in the final of the 1,500 meters with 3.29.23 just faster than the Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3.29.47). Spaniard Mohamed Katir took bronze in 3.29.90.

After the medal ceremony, Geoff Wightman descended from the stands to hug his son.

Jake Wightman’s mother was also at the stadium in Eugene and she is also a former athlete. Susan Tooby ran the 1988 Olympic Marathon in Seoul. After her son’s win, the cameras quickly went to Tooby as well. “I am the proudest mother in the world,” she said. When the stadium was empty, Jake Wightman also had his picture taken with his father, mother and his gold medal.

Jake Wightman with his mother Susan Tooby.

World record holder Warholm disappoints

The final of the 1,500 meters was not the only final battle on the fifth day of the World Cup. Brazilian Alison dos Santos won gold in the 400m hurdles in a championship record of 46.29.

Norwegian Olympic champion and world record holder Karsten Warholm was the first to come out of the bend towards the finish after 300 meters, but collapsed in the last meters. He finished seventh in 48.42.

Slovenian discus thrower Kristjan Ceh took gold with a distance of 71.13. In the women’s high jump world title was a prey for the Australian Eleanor Patterson. She jumped 2.02 meters and that was enough for gold.

The finish of the final of the 400 meters hurdles.