2024 World U20 champion Edmund Serem capped off a memorable outing at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo by winning bronze in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase final on Monday, 15 September.
The youngster, who was making his senior championship debut, returned home a happy man after holding his own against some of the biggest names in the water-jump-and-barrier contest.
Serem had already shown signs of brilliance on the opening day of the competition, when he cruised to victory in heat one of the steeplechase on Saturday, 13 September afternoon.
He clocked 8:29.97 to cross the finish line ahead of Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale, who came in second in 8:30.14.
That performance sent a clear message that the rising star was ready to mix it with the elite.
In Monday’s final, Serem started aggressively, frequently swapping first and second place during the early stages of the race.
With four laps remaining in the decisive race and on the biggest stage of his career, he was in contention for a place on the podium.
However, after the 2,000m mark, he briefly slipped back to fifth and sixth positions as the pace intensified and the big guns began surging forward.
Just when it seemed his medal hopes were fading, Serem summoned a late burst in the final 100 meters, producing a blistering kick to power into third place.
He crossed the line in 8:34.56 to secure a bronze medal against all odds.
The third-place finish saw him become the first 17-year-old to medal at the World Championships.
New Zealand’s Geordie Beamish stormed to victory in 8:33.88, denying Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali a third straight title.
The defending champion, who had won gold in Oregon (2022) and Budapest (2023), was edged into silver with a time of 8:33.95.
