Dibaba storms to Olympic double

Dibaba adds another gold medal to her collection

Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba made it an Olympic double after winning the 5,000m on Friday in the Bird's Nest.

A week after winning the 10,000m, Dibaba sprinted to victory ahead of Turkey's Elvan Abeylegesse and defending champion Meseret Defar.

After a sluggish start with nobody willing to push the pace, Dibaba took the lead with two laps remaining to finish with a time of 15:41.40 secs.

It is the first time a female runner has won the 5,000m and 10,000m titles.

Kenya's world silver medallist Vivian Cheruiyot was the first to lead the way, with Dibaba, 23, Defar and team-mate Meselech Melkamu happy to sit at the back.

It was then the turn of Russia's Guinara Galkina-Samitova, who set a world record to win the 3,000m steeplechase on Sunday, to turn on the power.

I will remember the Beijing Games forever because I won two gold medals here Tirunesh Dibaba

The Russian looked strong at the 3,000m mark, with Defar then lucky to escape a fall after being spiked by Melkamu.

Dibaba then produced a dazzling finish in the 12-and-a-half lap race to claim the first long-distance running double in 28 years.

"I am very happy," the new Olympic champion said. "I like Beijing very much. I will remember the Beijing Games forever because I won two gold medals here.

"It was quite slow out there. I tried to accelerate three laps before the finish. It's a big achievement for me.

"When I came from my country, I didn't think I'd win both titles. I just thought I'd be a good competitor in both events."