From the Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games
Above photo: Getty Images

August 23

(BEIJING) — Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele has taken the gold medal in the final of the Men’s 5000m in a new Olympic record time of 12:57.82 at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. He also won the Men’s 10000m in these Games.

The win comes after fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba won gold in both the Women’s 5000m and 10000m.

Athens 2004 silver medalist Bekele now becomes the third Ethiopian, behind Miruts Yifter (Moscow 1980) and Dibaba (Beijing 2008), to take gold in the distance double.

Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge took silver in a time of 13:02.80, being renowned for performing on the big stage, something he proved by winning gold at the 2003 world championships and silver at the same event in 2007.

Rounding out the podium was Kenyan Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, who ran a season best of 13:06.22 to take bronze.

Moses Ndiema Kipsiro of Uganda took fourth place in a time of 13:10.56, having won bronze at the World Championships in 2007 and becoming the African champion over 10000m in 2006.

Bekele’s younger brother, reigning World Indoor Champion Tariku, took sixth place, with a time of 13:19.06.

Reigning world champion Bernard Lagat of the Unites States redeemed himself in the heats after a sub-standard performance in the 1500m, but faltered in the final, coming ninth in 13:26:89.

Kenenisa Bekele (R1) of Ethiopia competes. (Photo credit: Xinhua)