Geordie Beamish was involved in arguably the best race of the 2025 World Championships. In Tokyo, he timed his finish to perfection to upset the twice and reigning champion, Soufiane El Bakkali, in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. The Moroccan was looking for his third world title in a row, to go with his Olympic golds from Tokyo and Paris. But Geordie had other ideas.
He takes us back to that night, and to that final lap. We relive it all, including an incident earlier in the week, where he narrowly avoided getting his face stepped on in the heats.
Tokyo wasn’t the first time that the New Zealander had struck gold at a World Championships. Indoors in Glasgow in 2024 he won the 1500m title. So which event does he prefer and how close was either performance to a perfect race?
Geordie came through in New Zealand at the same time as High Jump World and Olympic champion, Hamish Kerr. They’ve competed in the same High School and age group champs and now are spearheading a golden period in New Zealand athletics on the world stage. We discuss the friendship between these two flying Kiwis.
In a Commonwealth Games year, Geordie also explains what the Games mean to him and to his country.
Photo: Geordie Beamish of Team New Zealand and Soufiane El Bakkali of Team Morocco compete along the final straight during the Men's 3000 Metres Steeplechase Final on day three of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 2025 at National Stadium on September 15, 2025 in Tokyo, Japan. (Credit: Getty Images)