Bekele storms to double
Kenenisa Bekele won his second gold of the Beijing Olympics with a stunning success in the 5,000 metres.
Last Updated: 23/08/08 5:33pm
Kenenisa Bekele won his second gold of the Beijing Olympics with a stunning success in the 5,000 metres.
The Ethiopian triumped in the 10,000m earlier in the week and produced a blistering final lap to complete the long-distance double on the final day of action at the Bird's Nest on Saturday.
In doing so he became the first man to achieve the feat since compatriot Miruts Yifter 28 years ago in Moscow.
Kenya's Wilfred Bungei produced a dominant piece of front running to take gold in the men's 800m in a time of one minute 44.65 seconds.
The 28-year-old, who came into these Olympics with a reputation of choking on the big occasion, took the lead during the first lap.
After winding up the pace at the bell, Bungei opened a three-metre lead over his rivals.
That proved just enough to hold off fast-finishing Ismail Ahmed Ismail of Sudan, with another Kenyan, world champion Alfred Kirwa Yego, claiming bronze.
Tia Hellebaut pulled off a shock win in the women's high jump with a clearance of 2.05m.
The Belgian secured the gold on countback from the pre-Games favourite Blanka Vlasic of Croatia, who also managed a best of 2.05m. Russia's Anna Chicherova (2.03m) finished with bronze.
Norway's Andreas Thorkildsen produced an Olympic record throw of 90.57m to defend the men's javelin title.
Ainars Kovals of Latvia took silver with a personal best of 86.64m, while world champion Tero Pitkamaki of Finland had to settle for bronze medal after a best throw of 86.16 metres.
