Cape Town – Caster Semenya was a tough act to follow, but while Elroy Gelant fought valiantly to the end, it was Britain’s Mo Farah who took the glory in the 5 000m to clinch an Olympic “double double” in Rio on Saturday night.
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Farah defended his 5,000-meter Olympic crown in the Estádio Olímpico Joao Havelange, edging out Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo of the United States in second and Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet in third, to add to his earlier successful defense of the 10,000m title he first won at London 2012. Paul Chelimo of the United States finished on silver as Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet took bronze.
Great Britain’s Mo Farah won his fourth Olympic gold medal as he became only the second man in history to retain the 5,000m and 10,000m titles. “My legs were a bit exhausted after the 10km, I don’t know how I recovered”, Farah told reporters.
“You can’t replace this [holding up an Olympic gold]”.
But the Londoner’s tactical nous has got him out of sticky situations in the past, while his winning streak on the biggest stage intimidates rivals.
Farah started in typical fashion, sitting at the back of the field, but he moved through to the front with less than 2,000m remaining and controlled the pace from that point. “But when I hit the front, I wasn’t letting anyone past me”.
After so many races where the rest of the field played into his hands by going steadily and opening the door for a last-lap burn-up, Farah was initially presented with a different challenge as Gebremeskel and Gebrhiwet set off at a hot pace from the start.
Unbelievable run from Andy Butchart.
Lagat finished with a time of 13:06.78.
Farah dedicated his latest medal to his baby son – Hussein – saying he had now has trophies for each of his four children.
The Brit added a stunning gold medal in the 5,000m in Rio, having already claimed victory in the 10,000m earlier in the Games.
And the last member of the Farah brood has not been left out.
Farah intends to race on the track in one more major championship, in London next year. Boy will he be missed.
“I believe I need to run a couple of key marathons in my career”, added Farah. I’ve never had to recover from a race before.
Farah completed “Super Saturday” for Great Britain by winning the third of three home gold medals in the Olympic Stadium in one night, kicking away down the home straight to roars from the crowd. I’ll be in London next year because I owe it to all the people that have supported me. “I just want to go home now and see my kids and hang my medals around their necks”.
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“That is the only thing that really gets me down or makes me think twice about what I do, but it has been worth it”.
