While Usain Bolt said goodbye to the Olympics with a ninth gold medal on Friday night, completing his “triple triple”, this, sealing the “double double”, was Farah’s last track race at a Games.
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“I can’t believe it”, said Farah.
“(It show) I didn’t just fluke it in London, to do it again is incredible.
“You’re a target, you’re a target”. Just how do you beat a guy who can win any style race?
Farah came into the final stretch in the lead, and that means it’s over.
Farah cemented his place as a track distance legend at London 2012, as he won gold medals in both the 5,000 and 10,000.
“It never gets old”, beamed the 33-year-old after capturing his second successive 5,000m title on Saturday, winning the Rio final in 13min 3.30sec to emulate Finland’s Lasse Viren, who did the double at the 1972 and 1976 Games.
Farah won in 13:03.30, which is 10 seconds outside his best but still sharp.
Farah beat off strong competition from Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet and USA runner Bernard Lagat, running a 13:03.30 race that showcased his physical and psychological talents.
The Brit has now clinched the 5,000 metres and 10,000m double at consecutive Games after a thrilling sprint finish over the smaller distance. Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia won bronze in 13:04.35.
“That’s why I was so emotional at the end, it nearly went”.
The race is likely to be the highlight of a night of finals that includes the men’s 1500m and javelin and the women’s 800m and high jump.
Semenya has been mired in a gender row since winning the world title in 2009.
With such faith in his own ability, it was no surprise when Farah declared he would be “devastated” not to leave Rio with two more gold medals to add to the collection.
And Matt Centrowitz became the first American to win the Olympic men’s 1,500m final in more than a century, holding off a late challenge from Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi.
It’s not as if he needed the help, but he still won while several of the runners behind him caused a bit of confusion.
Chelimo initially placed second, but was later disqualified – along with Ahmed and Edris – for “not stepping inside the inside line of the track”, according to the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) live website blog.
In the meantime, however, 41-year-old U.S. runner Bernard Lagat briefly moved up to take bronze and become the oldest medal victor in any track event at the Olympic Games.
But from the moment he learned of the decision, Lagat was preparing himself for a reversal.
None of that affected Farah.
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Last early on, Farah slowly moved his way up the field, finally joining the leaders with five laps to go. I’ve got such a long stride, I don’t blame him.
