Josh Kerr clinches world indoor gold, mocks rival with a “night night” gesture.

Josh Kerr often pairs outstanding performance with provocation, a mix that makes him a fascinating competitor. After clinching a dramatic world indoor 3,000‑metre title in Toruń, the British runner promptly delivered a pointed response.

As he crossed the finish line, Kerr mimicked NBA star Steph Curry’s “night night” gesture, placing both hands on his cheeks to suggest he had put his rival—Olympic 1,500‑metre champion Cole Hocker—to sleep.

Kerr noted that Hocker had used the same move after defeating him at the Millrose Games a month earlier, making the retaliation all the more satisfying.

“He’s done an excellent job these past couple of years,” Kerr said. “I just wanted him to know how much that meant to me. Millrose was important, but this feels like the North Star.”

Hocker admitted the loss and Kerr’s gesture stung, but vowed to respond. “I’m not even angry,” he said. “I celebrated at Millrose. At least come up with your own celebration. I’ll remember this one.”

The men’s 3,000‑metre contest had been billed as the championship’s marquee race, featuring all three Olympic 1,500‑metre medalists from Paris in direct competition. It may not have lived up to that hype, but it was still a compelling battle.

Kerr spent much of the race away from his desired spot. For the first two kilometres he imagined how his coach Danny Mackay would react. While Ethiopians Addisu Yihune and Getnet Wale set a fast pace, Hocker and Paris bronze‑medallist Yared Nuguse occupied third and fourth, leaving Kerr in sixth.

When the Ethiopians began to fade, Kerr surged on the penultimate lap, catching Hocker, who found himself boxed in. The American narrowed the gap in the final 100 metres but had expended too much energy.

“During the race I kept thinking Danny would be furious about my positioning,” Kerr, who finished in 7 minutes 35.56 seconds, said. “I had to stay calm amid the chaos and relax. Winning a world medal isn’t about drama; it’s a game of chess. Cole and Yared are both strong, so in the last kilometre you must play your hand confidently and give nothing away.”

Hocker secured silver, 0.24 seconds behind, while France’s Yann Schrub took bronze. Kerr later said he was unsure of Hocker’s exact distance because the stadium board was not displaying it.

“I felt strong in the last 100 metres, though it would have been nice to see the numbers,” Kerr added. “I finished a bit early but still had energy left, so I was pleased.”

The victory restores the world title Kerr first captured in Glasgow in 2024, after he limped out of the 1,500‑metre final at the Tokyo championships with a calf injury. He concluded by thanking his mother, Jill, for her support in his comeback.