1,500 metres, Men

The favorite in this event was Kenyan Asbel Kiprop, the 2008 gold medallist, a three-time World Champion, and the world list leader in five of the last six years. His main challenger was expected to be the defending gold medallist, Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria. Both made the final comfortably as did American Matt Centrowitz, who had won silver at the 2013 World Championships, and bronze at the 2011 Worlds, also placing fourth at the London Olympics, but he was not expected to challenge for gold in Rio.

Centrowitz took the lead and set a historically dawdling pace, passing 400 metres in 66.9 and then slowing the pace even more, running 69.8 for the second lap, and passing 800 metres in 2:16.7. The question was who would start the kick, and when. The answer came at 600 metres when Centrowitz took off, running the next 200 metres in 27.4. He was briefly headed at 1,000 metres by Djiboutian Ayanleh Souleiman but he went wide on the far turn and Centrowitz re-took the lead. It was a lead he never relinquished, winning a stunning upset gold medal in 3:50.00. Centro ran a historic last 800 in 1:49.8, although his winning time was the slowest at the Olympics since Luigi Beccali won in 3:51.2 at the 1932 Games. Makhloufi came on fast for the silver medal, adding this to his silver medal from the 800 metres, with bronze going to New Zealand’s Nick Willis.

Centrowitz was the first American to win the 1,500 metres since Mel Sheppard at the 1908 London Olympics. He was only the third American to win gold in the event, with Jim Lightbody winning in 1904 and 1906.