| The bottom left inset pictures show a delighted Kenenisa crossing the
line to win gold in the mens 5000m final at the 2008 Olympic Games in
Beijing. It was a fantastic performance by Bekele, whose winning time of
12.57.82 was a new Olympic record, and completed a memorable double for
the Ethiopian who had earlier won gold in the 10000m (see previous
page). This victory for Bekele was no doubt all the more satisfying as
it was the first time that he had struck gold in the 5000m at a major
championship; his previous medals in the event being a bronze at the
2003 Worlds and a silver at the 2004 Olympics. The top left inset photo
shows Kenenisa leading the way ahead of the Kenyan pair Eliud Kipchoge
and Edwin Cheruiyot Soi in the closing stages and that is exactly the
order that the medals would be split. |
| |
| Men's 5000m. Final. 2008 Olympic Games |
| 1. Kenenisa BEKELE |
|
ETH |
|
12: 57.82 OR |
| 2. Eliud KIPCHOGE |
|
KEN |
|
13: 02.80 |
| 3. Edwin Cheruiyot SOI |
|
KEN |
|
13: 06.22 |
| 4. Moses Ndiema KIPSIRO |
|
UGA |
|
13: 10.56 |
| 5. Abreham CHERKOS |
|
ETH |
|
13: 16.46 |
| 6. Tariku BEKELE |
|
ETH |
|
13: 19.06 |
| 7. Juan Luis BARRIOS |
|
MEX |
|
13: 19.79 |
| 8. James Kwalia C'KURUI |
|
QAT |
|
13: 23.48 |
| |
|
The left hand photo above shows Kenenisa leading his compatriot
Sileshi Sihine and on his way to gold in the final of the mens 10000m at
the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, thus replicating his achievement
four years previously in Athens. Bekele's time of 27.01.17 was a new
Olympic record and saw him once again beat his compatriot Sihine into
second place.
The right hand picture shows Kenenisa shortly after crossing the line,
whilst the inset image shows a happy Bekele signalling 'V' for victory
after his magnificent performance had brough him his fifth gold medal at
a major global championship.
Bekele later commented: "I'm so happy with my performance - I won an
Olympic gold for the second time. Winning again is special, very
special. The race was fantastic, there was no pacemaker and everyone was
pushing. No-one could push any harder. It is a big gift. I will now try
to run the 5, 000m. It is not easy to run the two events. It will be a
strong race."
The brilliant Bekele did indeed run the 5000m and he produced another
breathtaking performance to win the gold medal, once again with an
Olympic record time as the pictures above show. Photos George
Herringshaw. ©
|
| |
| Men's 10000m. Final. 2008 Olympic Games |
| 1. Kenenisa BEKELE |
|
ETH |
|
27: 01.17 OR |
| 2. Sileshi SIHINE |
|
ETH |
|
27: 02.77 |
| 3. Micah KOGO |
|
KEN |
|
27: 04.11 |
| 4. Moses Ndiema MASAI |
|
KEN |
|
27: 04.11 |
| 5. Zersenay TADESE |
|
ERI |
|
27: 05.11 |
| 6. Haile GEBRSELASSIE |
|
ETH |
|
27: 06.68 |
| 7. Martin Irungu MATHATHI |
|
KEN |
|
27: 08.25 |
| 8. Ahmad Hassan ABDULLAH |
|
QAT |
|
27: 23.75 |
| |