Sport

Mo Farah races to long-distance double for second Olympics in row

Great Britain's Mo Farah with his gold medals after victory in the Men's 5000m and 10000m on the 15th day of the Rio Olympics Games, Brazil.  
Great Britain's Mo Farah with his gold medals after victory in the Men's 5000m and 10000m on the 15th day of the Rio Olympics Games, Brazil.   Great Britain's Mo Farah with his gold medals after victory in the Men's 5000m and 10000m on the 15th day of the Rio Olympics Games, Brazil.  

MO Farah completed the long-distance double for the second Olympics in a row by racing to 5,000 metres gold in Rio last night.

A week after picking himself off the track following a trip to claim 10,000m gold, Farah avoided any such drama and pulled clear down the home straight to cross the line in 13 minutes 3.30 seconds.

He produced a storming final lap of 52.83secs to hold off the challenge of American Paul Kipkemoi Chelimo, who was disqualified and subsequently reinstated to runner-up in a personal best time of 13:03.90, and third-placed Hagos Gebrhiwet of Ethiopia.

Fittingly, Farah's medal was the one which brought Team GB level with their medal haul from London 2012 of 65, a total they surpassed a few minutes later when the women's 4x400m relay team claimed bronze.

Victory saw 33-year-old Farah become only the second man after 'Flying Finn' Lasse Viren to win both long-distance track titles at two Games.

He has admitted it is taking him longer to recover between races now, and none of his Ethiopian rivals had taken part in the 10,000m. This was one he could lose.

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, with his loping stride, was keen to stay out of trouble early on as the Ethiopians set a quick pace at the front.

He moved up to second with five laps to go and 200m later hit the front.

Gebrhiwet looked to challenge him at the bell as the race turned into a last-lap burn-up and there remains no one who can match Farah's finishing speed as he spread his arms wide when he crossed the line.

Team-mate Andrew Butchart finished an impressive sixth in a personal best 13:08.61.

Farah had stated ahead of the race that he needed this fourth gold for his son Hussein, with his three others dedicated to his older three children.

He dedicated his two Olympic golds from London 2012 to his twin daughters Aisha and Amani, who were born shortly after those successes, and said his 10,000m gong in Rio was for his oldest daughter Rhianna.

And the last member of the Farah brood has not been left out.

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.

He plans to move to the roads after next year's World Championships in London. Boy will he be missed.

Farah said on BBC One: "I can't believe it. My legs were a bit tired after the 10k. I don't know how I recovered. People were bringing me food in my hotel room, but it is every athlete's dream.

"(It shows) I didn't just fluke it in London, to do it again is incredible. I just want to see my kids and hang this medal around their necks.

"I was surprised by the first lap, I thought it was going to be a slow race. They had a plan, they wanted to take the sting out of me, but when I hit the front, I wasn't letting anyone past me.

"It has been a long journey, but if you dream of something, have ambitions and are willing to work hard then you can get your dreams."