Great Britain’s Mo Farah further cemented his place in sporting immortality after storming to a double-double, successfully defending his men’s 5000m at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Few men have been able to do the double in both 5000m and 10000m in successive Olympics, with the last man being Finland’s Lasse Virén who won the double-double at the 1972 and 1976 Games in Munich and Montreal respectively.
Farah as always ran a good tactical race, not letting the Ethiopians out of his sight as he clocked 13:03.30 to take the win in what was a thrilling finale. Meanwhile in the other podium placements, Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo who finished 2nd was initially disqualified, but he was later cleared and his Personal Best (PB)of 13:03.90 reinstated. Hagos Gebrehiwet still placed 3rd with a time of 13:04.35.
What a story it would have been for 41–year old Bernard Lagat who was moved up to Bronze, but the decision was later rescinded, with Chelimo getting cleared and receiving his medal
When they took the bell, Farah went in front, although he was under immense pressure from Gebrehiwet who was kicking in to go in front, reminiscent of how London 2012 panned out, but Farah did not give him any room to upstage him as he pulled away in the home straight.
Farah is looking at focusing on the Marathon, and this could be the last time he will be seen at an Olympic track competing again. There is no doubt that he will still meet more dominant East Africans in the Marathon.
