Mo Farah wins 5,000m gold at World Athletics 2013
Last updated on .From the section Athletics
Mo Farah's career reached incredible new heights as the Briton became only the second man in history to complete an Olympic and world 'double-double' in the distance events.
The 30-year-old held on in a thrilling finish to add the 5,000m title to the 10,000m gold he won on Saturday.
It was a battle between Farah and Kenyan Isiah Kiplangat Koech down the home straight, with the Londoner moving away in the last 40m.
Farah crossed the line in 13 minutes and 26.99 seconds to claim his fifth global outdoor title.
"I never thought in my career I would achieve something like this," said Farah. "This was very tough - it was all left to the last two laps. I had a lot of pressure but at the same time I enjoy it.
"I am very proud to represent my country and hold the Union Jack. To all the people who give me great support I can't thank you enough. Thank you to all the people back home - I am very proud."
The historic feat in Moscow concludes an incredible 12 months for Britain's greatest distance runner, who has now matched the feats of Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele.
Multiple world record holder Bekele claimed double gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and repeated his exploits at the Berlin World Championships a year later to join his compatriot Haile Gebrselassie on the list of history's distance running greats.
Some will argue the absence of world records for Farah over the two distances is a hole in his glorious CV.
Farah, however, stands head and shoulders above his compatriots as the most decorated British athlete in history.
Before the start of these championships, Farah was level with triple jumper Jonathan Edwards and decathlete Daley Thompson with three major championship titles, but he moved above them in the space of a magnificent six days in the Russian capital.
BBC Sport commentator Brendan Foster called Farah the greatest British athlete of all time.
"For my money he is the greatest we've ever had," said Foster, who won bronze in the 10,000m at the 1976 Olympics.
"He put himself at the front and he would not let them past. Farah has always had challengers and he's always been able to hold them off.
"We are enjoying great times in distance running. Now we have a man who's inspiring the next generation of runners."
Five athletes in the field had faster personal bests than the 2011 5,000m world champion, and seven had gone quicker than him this season.
The race started at a slow pace which suited the Briton and with 600m remaining the double Olympic champion set off for the finishing line.
Farah could not entirely break free of Koech, but he was always in control and a final lap of 53.51 saw off the challengers.
He finished 0.28 seconds ahead of Ethiopia's Hagos Gebrhiwet, with Koech falling back to take the bronze.
BBC commentator Steve Cram, the 1500m world champion in 1983, said: "That was another incredible performance. His fifth global title - that's a fistful of gold.
"That was hard, really, really hard. It's not getting any easier, but it's just as sweet and just as brilliant. We are in special times with this special athlete."
Great Britain's men's 4x400m relay team were unable to make it a double celebration, though, as they had to settle for fourth place.
Nigel Levine was well placed going into the anchor leg but lost ground as a group of runners fought for position. He finished strongly down the home straight, but had left himself too much to do.
Comments
Join the conversation
You missed out:
* Came to the UK at the age of 8
* Grew up and has spent 20 years (2/3rds his life) in the UK.
* Has a British father.
* Is a product of the British athletics system.
* Sees himself (understandably) as British.
* Wraps himself in the Union Flag.
* Has competed for Great Britain all his career.
But yeah, apart from that it's a "flag of convenience", isn't it?
Secondly before the Muppet chorus starts your nationality is defined by two things alone, what is legally allowed and most important within that what you choose.
It's patronising, if not actually racist to tell somebody that they are wrong, you know better and they are actually not British. Bunk.
The man has made his position clear, respect it!
Farah came to Britain when he was 8. He is now 30. According to you, 8 years in Somalia and 22 years in Britain makes him a Somalian who just happens to run for Britain? Complete rubbish. Farah is British. And proud to be so. Just like he says.
Well done Mo brilliant win.
I salute you, for your achievements, dedication, sacrifices & above all for remaining genuine & humble throughout.
Fantastic Chap. Take a bow.
They should shut up and start running - I might listen to them if they can beat Mo.
I congratulate the humble Mo Farah on his dedication and efforts.
He is the best.
Full stop.
You're obviously making phenomenal sacrifices.
...anmd what I love the most - all the racists and bigots who can stand that you do so well wearing the British shirt and carrying the flag...
Well done fella!!
utd boy
------
Go ask Mo Farah what nationality he is and he will tell you he is British. He is someone who shows considerably more pride in competing for this nation than the whining prima donnas of the Premier League that I suspect you idolize given your user name.
I would never have attempted this sort of thing without being inspired by Mo.
Mo Farah = talent, inspiration, dedication and humility. He is a true Brit.
democracythreat
16 Minutes ago
Is there any sport the brits are not good at these days?
---------
Well there is the one, and its the one they'll devote most of the sports pages to as of tomorrow, not that they've stopped talking about it even when it wasn't being played...
No, he's British. He holds a UK passport. Like many other British people he happens to have been born in another country.
"2) His name is Mohammed"
So what? Reading some of the comments I here I wonder if there are people who would enact a version of the Nuremburg Laws to define and maintain some false idea of "English racial purity".