Kenenisa Bekele celebrates double gold

Bekele, who also succesfully defended his short course title on Saturday, is the first runner ever to repeat the title-winning feat on both the eight and 12 kilometre courses.

The 20-year-old broke a strong Kenyan team with a series of surges in successive laps.

Kenyan Patrick Ivuti was second with another Ethiopian Gerbremariam Gebreegziabher third.

Bekele's achievement is all the more impressive because his preparations for the event had been hampered by a blood disorder.

He was only able to confirm his participation earlier this week.

Meanwhile, Edith Masai succesfully defended her women's short course title.

The Kenyan surged ahead in the final 100m to beat Ethiopian Werknesh Kidane, who won the long course event on Saturday.

Masai's time for the 4km race was 12 minutes and 43 seconds.

Masai retained her short course title

Kenya's Jane Gakunyi was third which meant that Kenya took the team title ahead of Morocco.

On Saturday, Bekele successfully defended his short-course title, coming home ahead of Kenya's John Kibowen.

The Ethiopian out-sprinted Kibowen 150m from the line to finish the 4km race in a time of 11 minutes and one second.

Kibowen was three seconds behind while compatriot Benjamin Limo was third, giving Kenya the team honours.

Bekele's fellow Ethiopian Kidane struck late to take gold in the women's long course event.

American Deena Drossin led the whole way before Kidane surged ahead in the final 250m.

Kidane completed the 8km course in 25 minutes and 53 seconds, with Drossin having to settle for silver for the second year in a row, crossing the line in 26.01.