5,000 metres, Women

Earlier in the week, Ethiopian Almaz Ayana had destroyed the world record in the 10,000 metres and entered this event considered the prohibitive favorite. Her biggest challenge was expected to come from Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot, who had taken silver in the 10K, albeit 15 seconds behind Ayana. Cheruiyot and her teammate Hellen Obiri planned a team race to take on Ayana in the final.

In heat two, American Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealander Nikki Hamblin tangled on the eighth lap backstretch, both falling to the track. D’Agostino, who had never before met Hamblin, turned around and went back to help her up, and they then continued running, more like hobbling, to the finish. Both were advanced to the final, although D’Agostino could not run, having torn her ACL in the fall. The video of the sportsmanship went viral on social media.

In the final Japan’s Miyuki Uehara took the early lead, but Ayana went to the front after four laps and then threw in a 65.8 lap at 2K, trying to break the field. She opened up three metres but Cheruiyot and Obiri slowly pulled her back in. Cheruiyot covered laps 11 and 12 in 65.2 and 64.7, distancing Ayana, who was also passed by Obiri. Cheruiyot won the gold by about 3½ seconds over Obiri, with Ayana almost 4 seconds back for the bronze.