‘One shoe’ Conseslus Kipruto grinds out Diamond League (pictures)

Conseslus Kipruto was against strong competitors- including the nine men who combined to own the 26 fastest times in the world this year.

Kenyan Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto on Thursday won the men’s 3000m steeplechase race at the Diamond League in Zurich.

A fete he bagged on one shoe.

“I have big pain. I am injured because I lost my left shoe. That was a mess, but it motivated me to fight as hard as I could, so the race went well,” he said after the thrilling race.

A short victory speech from a gold medalist who had just completed six laps of barriers and water jumps with only the right shoe on.

He lost the left spike just after the first lap and teeth-biting sprint to the finish edged Moroccan El Bakkali by a slim margin.

Kipruto won in 8:10.15 while El Bakkali came in second timing 8:10.19.

Here are some of the pictures the sheer grit and determination as witnessed at the Zurich Leg of the IAAF Diamond League. (Pictures Courtesy)

The foot that won gold ...