Bekele completes gold double by winning men´s 5000m

Source: Xinhua | 08-23-2008 22:01

BEIJING, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia set a new Olympic record in men's 5,000-meter race to win the gold medal on Saturday at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Kenenisa Bekele (R) of Ethiopia competes during the men's  5,000m final at the National Stadium, also known as the  Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,  China, Aug. 23, 2008. Kenenisa Bekele won the title and  set a new Olympic record.(Xinhua Photo)

The 26-year-old Ethiopian distance runner finished in 12 minutes and 57.82 seconds to refresh the 24-year-old Olympic record created by Morocco's Said Aouita at Los Angeles Games.

The new record also gave him the second gold medal in the Beijing Olympic Games after winning the men's 10,000m.

Bekele, the silver medalist at Athens Games in 5,000m, also became the second Ethiopian after Miruts Yifter to achieve the 5,000m and 10,000m double. Yifter made the feat at Moscow Games, 1980.

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, bronze medalist at Athens Games, finished in 13:02.80 to win the silver medal.

Kipchoge's fellowman Edwin Cheruiyot Soi gained his seasonal best result of 13:06.22 to win the bronze medal.

Bernard Lagat of the United States, the world champion last year, finished ninth.

Editor:Chen Ge