Mo Farah successfully defended his 10,000-meter title as he battled to victory to secure his place as one of the best long-distance runners of all time.
The Brit survived a fall, as well as a challenge from the Kenyans and Ethiopians, to secure his third Olympic title, and potentially the first of two at Rio 2016.
The favorites heading in
There was no doubt that Farah, the defending champion and two-time World champion over the distance, was the heavy favorite heading into this race.
Another person expected to be a strong contender was Geoffrey Kamworor, who took silver behind the Brit and the World Championships last year, whilst many thought that London 2012 silver medalist Galen Rupp could be a factor.
2015 World Championship bronze medalist Paul Tanui looked as if he could be a factor, whilst the likes of Bedan Muchiri and Yigrem Demelash were also fancied to contend for medals.
Early stages
There were no real surprises early on, with Farah sitting at the back as usual and Kamworor and Tanui near the front in the opening few minutes, behind the early leader of Luis Ostos.
The pace of the race was not too fast but was moving at a reasonable time, with the field slowly becoming a little stretched within the first seven meters. However, it was at this stage in which Farah began to move a tad further up the field, closely being followed by Muchiri.
At around eight minutes in Farah caused panic in the field by briefly going to the front, which caused several to move forward. The Brit calmly let several runners ahead of him, but was surrounded by the Kenyan trio with 17 laps to go; after the quickest lap of the race so far.
At the ten minute stage, the field was beginning to become more stretched as the pace picked up a little; Demelash sat in second, with Kamworor in fourth and Farah in fifth, surrounded by Muchiri and Tenui.
Pace quickens
There was a slight shock in the 11th minute of the race as Farah tumbled after a collision with his training partner Rupp, though the Brit was quickly back to his feet.
Other injection of pace, led by Tamirat Tola, Muchiri and Kamworor stretched the field even further, with lap times beginning to hit 64 seconds. With the likes of Farah, Rupp, and the Kenyan trio all in the top 15 at around the halfway stage.
Shortly after the 15-minute stage, the three Kenyans Kamworor, Tenui, and Muchiri took the lead, with Tenui dropping back to fifth to cover Farah and Demelash ahead of him. The Kenyans took it in turns to lead the race, with Muchiri originally slowing the pace but increasing it around the 19-minute stage.
With just six laps to go Farah was sitting on the shoulder of Kamworor and a brief trip to the front for the Brit saw the likes of Demelash and Tola retake the lead.
Final five laps
Coming into the final five laps, a lap of 62 seconds had been recorded and it seemed likely that the leading racers would begin to push.
The Ethiopian duo continued to push on, creating a group of five with themselves, Farah, Tenui, and Rupp; the challenge of Kamworor and Muchiri was fading.
With 1000 meters to go Farah went to the front of the five, dictating the pace, and was leading with just two laps to go, though he had not yet begun to sprint to victory.
As they approached the final lap the pace began to grow, with Demalash’s challenge fading. With around 300 meters to go Tenui decided to go for it, though Farah caught him and sprinted to the finish line to win a historic third gold medal in a time of 27:05.17.
Tenui’s valiant effort was rewarded with a silver medal, with Tola taking the bronze medal. Demelash came in fourth, with Galen Rupp in fifth.
