Cole Hocker joined a small and elite list of runners from the United States who have captured Olympic gold in the 15,000-meter run on Aug. 6 in Stade de France at the 2024 Paris Olympics. 

Facing fellow American Yared Nuguse, defending Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen of Norway and Great Britain star Josh Kerr, Hocker's final push at the end of the race put him over the edge in what may be one of the biggest upsets of the 2024 Olympic Track and Field competition. 

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Hocker nearly set a U.S. record, on Aug. 6 with a time of 3:27.65, which is the seventh fastest time ever and the second fastest by a U.S. runner. Bernard Lagat still owns the U.S. record and Hicham El Guerrouj owns the world record in the 1,500-meter. 

But while Hocker didn't break the U.S. record, he did join a small group of American runners who have won gold in the 1,500-meters. Here's the list. 

Men's 1500m Team USA Track And Field Gold Medal Winners

• 1904 St. Louis Olympics: Jim Lightbody
• 1908 London Olympics: Mel Sheppard 
• 2016 Rio de Janeiro  Matthew Centrowitz Jr. 
• 2024 Paris: Cole Hocker

In 1904, the first Olympics in the United States and just the third games overall, America swept the 1,500-meter with Lightbody, Frank Verner and Lacey Hearn finishing first, second and third. 

Which Country Has Won The Most Gold Medals In the Men's 1500m?

Great Britain has won five gold medals in the event and 14 overall. 

The United States is tied with Great Britain in overall medals in the event with 14 and is tied with Kenya for the second-most gold medal wins with five. United States had one of the longest gold medal droughts in the event, going 108 years in between gold medals. 

Men’s 1500m USA Record Holders 

• 3:27.40    Bernard Lagat (Nike) 8/25/05
• 3:27.65    Cole Hocker (Nike)    8/6/24
• 3:27.80    Yared Nuguse (On AC)    8/6/24
• 3:29.45    Hobbs Kessler (adidas)  8/6/24
• 3:29.77    Sydney Maree (Puma)    8/25/85
• 3:30.40    Matthew Centrowitz (Nike)    7/17/15
• 3:30.54    Alan Webb (Nike)    7/06/07
• 3:30.90    Andrew Wheating (Oregon)    7/22/10
• 3:30.98    Leo Manzano (Hoka)    7/18/14
• 3:31.01    Jim Spivey (Athletics West)    8/28/88

Here’s a list of the men's 1,500-meters all-time world performance list.

Men's 1500m World Record Holders

• 3:26.00 Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 7/14/98
• 3:26.34 Bernard Lagat (KEN) 8/24/01
• 3:26.69 Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 7/17/15
• 3:26.73 Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 7/12/24
• 3:27.37 Noureddine Morceli (ALG) 7/12/95
• 3:27.64 Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 7/18/14
• 3:27.65 Cole Hocker (USA) 8/6/24
• 3:27.79 Josh Kerr (GBR) 8/6/24
• 3:27.80 Yared Nuguse (USA) 8/6/24
• 3:28.12 Noah Ngeny (KEN) 8/11/00

Who Is Cole Hocker?

Cole Hocker starred at the University of Oregon from from 2019-2021 and won silver in the 1,500-meters at the 2024 World Indoor Championships. He competed in the 2020 Olympics and finished sixth in the race. In 2021, Cocker beat Nuguse in the NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships. 

He turned professional later that year. 

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