The US-based Havelock North runner is the first New Zealander to secure a gold medal on the track in 42 years and 20 editions of the outdoor world athletics championships.
The win comes just two days after his heart-stopping fall in the heats, getting stamped on the head in the process, before getting back up and earning a spot in the final.
It’s a second world title for Beamish after claiming the world championship indoor title in the 1500 metres at Glasgow last year.
“It’s unreal. I never thought I’d be world champion once…to do it again is pretty unbelievable. I’ve just been enjoying the last hour or so, it was a special moment in the stadium,” the 28-year-old said after the race.
“It was unreal, I felt like I could feel it in my chest how loud it was.”
A distraught El Bakkali, who has claimed the past two world titles and two Olympic titles, collapsed to the ground sobbing after being chased down by the Kiwi, needing to be consoled by teammate Salaheddine Ben Yazide.
“It’s very difficult for me to accept this result but I have to because this is high performance sport,” he told AFP.
El Bakkali eventually joined Beamish in his victory lap before both runners took a dip in the water pit.
“He’s a legend in the sport,” Beamish said after his win. “Probably made the steeplechase what it is over the last five to six years. He’s got four in a row, I’m never going to win as many races as he has, I’m never going to run as fast as he has I’m sure, but that’s fine by me. It was special to share a victory lap with him. He’s a legend.”
Gold medalist Geordie Beamish of New Zealand and silver medalist Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco celebrate with their medals inside a water jump pool following the Men’s 3000 Metres Steeplechase final. Photo / Getty Images
New Zealand’s six previous titles at the World Championships were in field events – one in discus (Beatrice Faumuina in 1997) and five in shot put (Valerie Adams in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013; Tom Walsh in 2017).
“I made headlines for all the wrong reasons two days ago,” Beamish said of the photo going viral of a competitor’s foot on his head after he fell in the heats.
“Made some new headlines today. Push those ones out. I fell with a lap to go but got up and felt really comfortable coming by everyone still and realised that the fitness, that was a bit of a question mark having not raced for a long time, was as good if not better than what I thought it was going to be, so maybe a blessing in disguise,” Beamish said of his heats run.
Geordie Beamish tries to avoid the foot of Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagnesduring the heats for the 3000 Metres Steeplechase at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025. Photo / Getty Images
It was a big night at the National Stadium in Tokyo with Armand Duplantis breaking the pole vault world record for a 14th time.
The Swede retained his crown with a vault of 6.15m before having a crack at his own world record which he beat with his third and final attempt at 6.30 metres.
“I felt the only way to leave Japan was to set the world record,” said Duplantis.
“That was my mentality. I don’t know what is next for me at this moment, I don’’t care.
“I will just enjoy this right now. I was feeling really good the whole day. I knew I had the record in me.”