Avinash Sable scripted history on Monday by becoming the first Indian man to qualify for the men’s 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics. Sable secured his place in the final by finishing fifth in his heat, recording a time of 8:15.43 minutes. The steeplechase event included three heats, with the top five athletes from each heat advancing to the final.
However, the time recorded by Sable at the Paris Olympics is slightly more than his personal best of 8:09.91 minutes, which he achieved at the Paris Diamond League earlier this year. The final for the men’s 3000m steeplechase will be held on 8 August.
Avinash Sable becomes the first Indian male to qualify for the men’s 3000m steeplechase final at the Paris Olympics 2024: Here’s all you need to know about the national-record setting athlete
Early life
Avinash Sable was born on 13 September, 1994, in Mandwa, a small village in Maharashtra. Hailing from a farming family, Sable’s early life was marked by the challenges of rural life. He used to walk 6 kilometres to school daily, as transportation was scarce in his village. Initially, he pursued cross-country running, but eventually found his niche in steeplechase.
Military service
During his junior college days, Sable worked at construction sites to help support his family. After completing his 12th standard, Avinash Sable joined the 5 Mahar Regiment of the Indian Army. He was stationed at the Siachen Glacier from 2013 to 2014, then served in north-western Rajasthan, and later in Sikkim from 2015.
In January 2017, army coach Amrish Kumar noticed Sable during a cross-country race in Hyderabad, and suggested he focus on steeplechase.
Career achievements
Avinash Sable has achieved significant success in the steeplechase. He first broke a 37-year-long national record by registering 8:29.80 minutes at the 2018 National Open Championships in Bhubaneswar. Later, at the 2019 Federation Cup, he set a new record with a time of 8:28.94 minutes.
In 2019, Sable became the first Indian male steeplechaser to qualify for the World Championships since 1991. He also won a silver medal at the Asian Athletics Championships in Doha with a time of 8:30.19 minutes.
In recent years, he has won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in 2022, with a national record time of 8:11.20 minutes. At the 2022 Asian Games, he secured gold in the 3000-metre steeplechase and silver in the 5000 metres. In 2024, before the Paris Olympics, Sable set yet another national record with a time of 8:09.91 minutes at the Paris Diamond League. This marked his tenth national record.
Prior to the Paris Olympics, Sable had participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he ended up securing the seventh spot in the qualifying stage.
