Norway's Ingebrigtsen storms to Olympic gold in 5,000m / Photo: Martin BERNETTI - AFP
Norway's Ingebrigtsen storms to Olympic gold in 5,000m
World champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen overcame surging Ethiopian team tactics to win the Olympic men's 5,000m in Paris on Saturday.
The Norwegian, who finished fourth in the 1,500m, timed 13min 13.66sec for gold, Kenya's Ronald Kwemoi taking silver in 13:15.04.
American Grant Fisher will return home with two bronzes after rounding out the podium (13:15.13) as he had also done in the 10,000m race.
"For me, the 5000m is over triple my usual distance, so it was a very tough race," Ingebrigtsen said.
"With the level being so high, people are running so fast this year, I knew I had to be at my very best to be able to fight for medals.
"I was a little bit locked in on the inside, it opened quite a big gap. I just tried to stay calm, went for it, I was able to catch up.
"It's just an amazing feeling. The contrast in sports is unique: when you succeed, and sometimes you have a bad experience. It's amazing to have this."
The race did not feature defending Olympic champion Joshua Cheptegei, the Ugandan having decided to skip the race after winning 10,000m gold, so missing out on becoming the third man to win back-to-back Olympic gold in the event after Lasse Viren (1972-1976) and Mo Farah (2012-2016).
With six laps to go, Ingebrigtsen moved up through the packed field, only to be submerged once more as Ethiopian Biniam Mehary took up the lead, teammate Addisu Yihune close on his heels.
The third Ethiopian, Hagos Gebrhiwet – second fastest man in history over the distance -- then shot into the lead with 600 metres to run, but Ingebrigtsen stayed with the pace and took the lead at the 200 metres mark.
For a moment, it looked like the Norwegian might have gone too early.
But he held on around the bend and powered away down the home straight for a dominant victory to make up for missing the podium in the 1500m.
"When you hit a wall and don't perform the way you want to, it's very difficult," he said of that 1500m disappointment.
"But for me, I'm participating in two events in Paris. I got another shot, I just had to make the most of it."
Silver medallist Kwemoi added: "A championship is not based on time only. It's a tactics race. There are no pacemakers.
"Before the race, I was looking for a finish in the top six. But I've finished in the top two. This makes me happy."
F.Hartmann--MP
