New Zealand, wake up! You’ve got a World Champion in your midst. But first, let’s rewind to the 3000m steeplechase heats. Disaster struck when Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnés fell hard, and his foot collided with Kiwi Geordie Beamish’s face after Beamish himself stumbled over a barrier, “I tried to be responsible and that’s what I get!” he said after the fall. A chaotic moment, no doubt, but both athletes didn’t just finish the race; they powered through, making the finals and setting records along the way. And the Kiwi? From taking a spiky foot to the face to bringing glory to his country, he has finally done it all.

From kissing the track in the heats to standing atop the podium, Geordie Beamish scripted a story New Zealand will remember for years. But how did he pull off the biggest upset at the 2025 World Championships? Two-time Olympic gold medalist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco was pressing for victory, confident the win was his. What he didn’t expect was the relentless charge from Beamish. The Moroccan seemed untouchable until Beamish cracked his defense and snatched gold.

El Bakkali surged toward the finish, but Beamish unleashed one final burst, closing in with lightning strides to snatch gold by a razor-thin margin of 0.07 seconds, crossing in 8:33.88 as the defending champion finished in 8:33.95. Settling for silver, it was a shocker for the Moroccan as Beamish’s last-minute push was as dramatic as it could have been. Coming in third and clinching the bronze was 17-year-old Edmund Serem, who finished with a time of 8:34.56.

Back to the Kiwi, Geordie Beamish etched history as this 3000 steeplechase gold was New Zealand’s first-ever outdoor World Championship gold medalist in track. He had already left his mark indoors, claiming the men’s 1,500m crown at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow. Well, with this victory, he has made sure to cement his name as one of the greats at the World Championship, but what does he think about his amazing victory? Let’s find out.

“I never thought I was going to be a world champion,” said Geordie Beamish on his World Championships victory

With 400 meters remaining in the World Athletics Championships steeplechase final, Geordie Beamish was stuck in 11th place. By the 200-meter mark, he had surged into 6th, and with 100 meters to go, he was flying in 4th. In a heart-stopping final burst, he crossed the line to claim victory.

When asked how it felt to win both the 1500m World Indoor Championship back in Glasgow last year and the 3000m steeplechase, he said, “Yeah, a bit of déjà vu, but not special to do on the outdoor track. Um, yeah, I never thought I was going to be a world champion once. Um, yeah, to be won twice is totally surreal.” 

An utterly magical moment for Geordie Beamish, especially considering he battled injuries through the latter half of 2024 and the first half of 2025. When the reporter asked what he was feeling at the final 150m of the race, the athlete stated, “Yeah, by 150, I’d found a bit of clear air. The back straight got a bit hectic; I was dodging and weaving a bit. But 150 to go—I’ve been in that position a few times over the years, and I backed myself against anyone in the world. The water jump wasn’t great, but I found some clear air with 100 to go and just put on the gas.”

With the gold around his neck, Geordie Beamish must be thrilled with his achievement at the Worlds, dethroning someone who once seemed untouchable. Now, with his Glasgow gold and an Oceania area record of 8:09.64 in the 3000m steeplechase, he has yet another medal to add to his resume. Regardless, what are your thoughts on his amazing run?