ZURICH (AP) – Mo Farah clinched his 5 000-10 000 metre double at the European Championships today, giving his troubled season a golden finish that made him the double long distance champion at continental, world and Olympic level all at the same time.
After proving his health during his 10 000 victory on Wednesday, the Briton showed off his running smarts and explosive power in the 5 000 in 14 minutes 05.82, tugging in on the bends and unleashing his unmatched kick for home that has now been unstoppable at big championships since the 2012 London Olympics.
Farah had been airlifted to a hospital with a stomach ailment at his U.S. training camp barely a month ago but was good enough for gold in two races in five days.
Today, his domination was so overpowering he had time to make his signature Mobot celebration with his hands over his head in the form of a heart as he crossed the line. He beat Hayle Ibrahimov of Azerbaijan by over two seconds (14:08.32). Briton Andy Vernon was third in 14:09.48.
Mahiedine Mekhissi also could have had a double but won his first gold today, outrunning all opposition in the 1 500 metres, three days after the Frenchman was disqualified in the steeple chase for stripping off his shirt in celebration before crossing the finish line.
Mekhissi left all opponents standing with 450 metres to go with a devastating kick for home that left him enough time on the finishing straight to wave to the crowds at the Letzigrund stadium. It was all show again, but at least he kept his shirt on.
“I ran with rage,” he said. “My reaction was the reaction of a champion.”
His burst for home coincided with a crash in the pack that knocked out some challengers. After Mekhissi coasted home in 3:45.60, Norway’s Henrik Ingebrigtsen took silver in 3:46.10 and Chris O’Hare of Britain bronze in 3:46.18.
