Mo Farah wins 5,000m gold medal at World Championships
Last Updated: 29/08/15 8:30pm
Mo Farah completed another major distance double by taking gold in the men’s 5,000m final at the World Championships in Beijing on Saturday.
He finished in a time of 13:50.38, with closest rival Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku of Kenya finishing in 13:51.75. Farah streaked away from Ndiku down the finishing straight.
The accolade is in addition to his 10,000m victory last weekend, making him the first athlete to win both races in back-to-back World Championships.
He was forced to overcome a stiff challenge from Ndiku who, in the final couple of laps, made it clear he wouldn't stand back and allow Farah to lead.
The 32-year-old Brit rose to the challenge and, grimacing, pulled away with the finishing line in sight with Ndiku's spirit broken.
He had earlier plotted his route from the back of the pack before creeping forwards in the eighth minute of the race.
With three laps to go Farah was leading, stalked by three Ethiopians, before Ndiku threw down the gauntlet by overtaking him – but it would be the British runner who would have the final say.
Before Saturday no athlete – not even Ethiopian greats Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba – had won the long-distance double at more than one World Championships. Farah's achievement comes off the back of his twin Olympic 2012 honours.
"It's incredible to make history and win so many medals for my country," said Farah, who joked he might "need to get a bigger house" to keep his expanding collection.
Farah, who revealed he has been suffering from a sore hamstring, said he never felt in danger.
"I could see he (Ndiku) was going hard rather than smooth, so I was looking at him thinking, 'this guy is a bit too hard here'. Coming into the straight I thought I had him.'"
The Londoner experienced the lowest moment of his career at the Bird's Nest stadium seven years ago when he failed to make the final of the Olympics.
His emotions on Saturday could not have been in greater contrast.
He said: "Seven years ago I remember Bekele winning everything. And I remember thinking with all those medals he has if he only gave me one. The change in seven years is incredible.
"That seven years hasn't been easy, it's been continual and year by year trying to build. If you'd have said to me seven years ago you'd have one medal I would have said OK, but to win as many medals as I have is just incredible.
"I had a tough year this year. To put everything behind me and continue what I'm doing, just be myself, focus on myself and on my running, it hasn't been easy. But at the same time it's made it enjoyable. With success comes a lot of obstacles."
