“Glorious achievement for the United States”American Cole Hocker pulls off one of the most astonishing upsets in Olympic history to defeat trash-talking superstars.

“Glorious achievement for the United States”American Cole Hocker pulls off one of the most astonishing upsets in Olympic history to defeat trash-talking superstars

PARIS: The men’s Olympic 1500m final had been billed as a “race for the ages”, to borrow the words of World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, between Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Josh Kerr.

And it was a race for the ages — but Kerr didn’t win and Ingebrigtsen didn’t even land on the podium.

In one of the most astonishing upsets in Olympic history, gold was taken out by Cole Hocker of the USA, who stormed to victory in 3:27.65, setting a new Olympic record.

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Kerr won silver in 3:27.79, the USA’s Yared Nuguse took bronze in 3:27.80 and Ingebrigtsen finished fourth, trailing home in 3:28.24.

Hocker, a 23-year-old from Indianapolis, whacked 2.94 seconds off his personal best to win his maiden global gold medal.

In making the monumental breakthrough on the purple Paris track, he reigned above two of the biggest trash-talkers in track and field, Norway’s Ingebrigtsen and Great Britain’s Kerr.

Cole Hocker wins gold in the men’s 1500m in Paris. Ian MacNicol/Getty Images

Ingebrigtsen surged into the lead from the outset and led a train of runners for the majority of the race, but things began to look precarious for the defending Olympic gold medallist when Kerr, the reigning world champion, kicked with about 200 metres to go, prompting an over-the-shoulder glance from Ingebrigtsen.

The Norwegian superstar still had the lead with about 80 metres to go, but Kerr was running faster and shot past.

Then came the most dramatic moment of the race — the moment Hocker squeezed past both Ingebrigtsen and Kerr on the inside.

The American, who’d barely drawn a mention in the lead-up to the race, dashed over the finish line and flung his arms in the air.

“I kind of told myself that I’m in this race, too,” Hocker said.

“If they let me fly under the radar, then so be it. I think that might’ve just been the best.”

Jakob Ingebrigtsen congratulates Cole Hocker on winning Olympic gold. Michael Steele/Getty Images

Kerr reflected on the race with a calm head.

“My ears are gone, my legs are gone,” he said.

“I’m proud of the performance I put out there today.

“I said to myself I’ll control my controllables; I did that today.

“I executed the fastest that I’ve ever run by almost two seconds. It wasn’t enough today. That’s sport.

“I’m very proud of myself and my preparation coming in. I left no stones unturned and that’s the result today.

“Of course, I was looking for that gold medal, but it’s a better medal than I got three years ago [when he won bronze in Tokyo].”

Cole Hocker dings the giant bell at the Stade de France. Al Bello/Getty Images

Ingebrigtsen, who led the field through 400 metres in 54.90 seconds, said he went out as fast as he did because he “felt extremely good”.

“I saw that I got a starting gap, and I was a little bit eager,” Ingebrigtsen said.

“Of course, it’s not what I was hoping for.

“… I can only blame myself.

“It’s not as fun if I’m not able to get the results I want, but the others did a great race.

“This was a risk I was going to take.”

An elated Cole Hocker celebrates winning gold. Al Bello/Getty Images

Barbs began flying back and forth between Ingebrigtsen and Kerr after the latter, born in Edinburgh, defeated the Norwegian to win 1500m gold at last year’s world championships in Budapest.

In the aftermath of that race, Ingebrigtsen claimed he was sick and said he was beaten by “just the next guy”.

Kerr lashed back on The Sunday Plodcast.

“I’m like, ‘You’ve won so many races, you ran fantastic all season that you’re just on this — you must be surrounded by so many ‘yes men’ that you don’t realise that you have weaknesses’. And I think that was part of his downfall,” Kerr said.

“If he doesn’t realise that he’s got some real major weaknesses, then he will not win the 1500m gold medal next year. And, you know, I’m OK with that.

“… I would love for him to be listening to this.”

From left: Silver medallist Josh Kerr, gold medallist Cole Hocker and bronze medallist Yared Nuguse. Hannah Peters/Getty Images

The most extraordinary chirp of the rivalry came in February, in response to Kerr setting a new indoor two-mile world record in New York City.

“I would have beaten him in that race blindfolded,” Ingebrigtsen told Norway’s TV2.

Ingebrigtsen has also fired off this one: “It is difficult to refer to him [Kerr] as a rival when he is never there. He is known as the Brit who never competes”.

Then this week, Kerr tipped “the most vicious 1500 metres this sport has seen for a very long time”, and said he was “looking to settle” the war of words.

Hocker didn’t win the war of words — he never entered it — but he won the battle that really mattered.