5,000 metres, Women

This was expected to be a race between the Kenyan and Ethiopian women, and with those six runners placing 1-6, they did not disappoint. The pre-race favorites were 2004 gold medalist Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot. But Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) had won the 5/10K double in Beijing, and had already repeated in the 10K in London and had to be watched closely.

As is common in Olympic distance finals, the pace was hideously slow, with the two African nation’s teams running together in a team tactic. At 3,200 metres, Dibaba picked up the pace, stringing out the field, and only Britain’s Julia Bleasdale would be able to hang on to the pace set by the African women. But she let go at 4,200 metres, as the Kenyan and Ethiopian runners set out to do battle. On the final lap, Dibaba still led, followed by Defar, Cheruiyot, and Sally Jepkosgei Kipyego (KEN), silver medalist from the 10,000. But by the homestretch Dibaba was spent and faded, Defar coming on to win her second gold medal in the event, with Cheruiyot earning silver, and Dibaba nipping Kipyego for the bronze. The two teams alternated their runners, with Ethiopia placing 1-3-5, and Kenya 2-4-6. Bleasdale placed eighth, passed on the last lap by her teammate Jo Pavey.