Bryce Hopple is the new World Indoor Champion
After an eventful final Bryce Hoppel, who had stayed well clear of trouble, took over the lead on the final straight from Eliott Crestan and sprinted to the gold. Behind him Andreas Kramer nudged ahead of Crestan as well. Benjamin Robert and a terribly disappointed Mariano García finished way back. Robert was later disqualified after what had been a tumultuous race.
The root of the trouble had been the two very different semfinals. One was quick, but in the other García had taken the lead, slowed the race down, then outsprinted the others. His plan might have been to do the same in the final. After all, he had also won the 2022 European Championships from the front. But Robert had decided he was not going to let that happen.
Straight from the start Robert sprinted into the lead, bumping ahead of García. The Spaniard wasn't happy with that. After one round he accelerated and took over the lead, as Robert went backward fast. Hoppel was quietly following, but then Crestan moved up, and as García was slowing down again the Belgian went around and across, and so the Spaniard took a knock once more. García had now lost a lot of energy and was fading fast as well.
Meanwhile Hoppel, who had avoided all these clashes, had saved the best for last. He finished in a new World Leading time, and after winning a bronze medal two years ago he has now added a world Indoor gold to his collection.
Result: 1 Bryce Hoppel USA 1:44.92 2 Andreas Kramer SWE 1:45.27 3 Eliott Crestan BEL 1:45.32 4 Catalin Tecuceanu ITA 1:46.39 5 Mariano García ESP 1:48.77 - Benjamin Robert FRA DQ (1:46.80)