As he did in the 10,000m race, Farah’s speed was way beyond anybody to match in the last lap as he surged clear of a field that contained four men with faster personal bests but none with his track-craft and iron will.
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“It’s every athlete’s dream, but I can’t believe it”, Farah told reporters.
Mo Farah of Britain became the first runner in 40 years to win back-to-back long-distance doubles at the Olympics by taking gold in the men’s 5,000 meters.
Chelimo was one of three men subsequently disqualified, along with Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and Ethiopia’s Muktar Edris, which ensured Hagos Gebrhiwet was promoted to second and 41-year-old Bernard Lagat took bronze.
Evan Jager won a rare medal for the United States in the race – its first since 1984 – after overtaking Kenya’s double Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi in the last 50m to take silver.
With five laps to run, Farah was well positioned in second and then took over the lead, immediately dropping the pace so the pack bunched back up. For the 5,000m I just have to recover now, get through the heat and see what happens. I enjoy what I do, and I try to make nation and country proud.
“I know Tanui but not really the Ethiopians and what they were capable of”.
“As the laps went down I was getting more and more confidence and at the bell I was just thinking to myself “don’t waste too much energy”, he said. It’s tough, the guys make it tough.
The Briton is set to compete at next year’s world championships in London, but would not be drawn on his plans beyond that. And, boy, will he be missed. The champion athlete, who has become the second person to ever win gold in both races, looked visibly emotional after crossing the finishing line in the the 5,000m race, and greeted his family in the crowd in a sweet moment.
Few remember now that when he went to his first Olympics in Beijing eight years ago, he failed even to reach the final, forcing him into a radical switch that took him to OR and the occasionally controversial coach Alberto Salazar.
Mo had earlier dedicated his two Olympic golds from London 2012 to his twin daughters Aisha and Amani, who were born just after the Games.
And the last member of the Farah brood has not been left out.
The 21-year-old had always been touted as the young pretender to Kenya’s steeplechase crown but he produced a final lap sprint that saw him grab gold in an Olympic record of 8 minutes 3.28 seconds.
They surpassed that tally when the women’s 4x400m relay team won bronze in the penultimate track event of the Games.
“There was only one to go and that’s what motivated me”, he said. I didn’t want to get boxed in.
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Gold medal favorite Asbel Kiprop of Kenya finished sixth after falling midway through the race.
