On this day three years ago: Mo Farah won gold in the 10,000m at the Rio Olympics – runnersworld.com

August 13, 2016: Mo Farah is 24 laps and 26 minutes into a race that could make him a history-maker. It’s the final of the 10,000m at the 2016 Rio Olympics. He’s already had to get off the floor, having suffered a mid-race fall, and the pace has been punishing throughout.

Standing between him and distance running immortality is the cream of African distance running, as well as Mo’s training partner, the US’s Galen Rupp. As the bell sounds, the commentator Andrew Cotter says, ‘Five into three does not go.’ But Mo is not thinking of making the podium; he has eyes only for gold.

Cameron Spencer

‘What speed has Mo Farah got over the last 400m?’ wonders Cotter. As Kenya’s Paul Tanui takes the lead in the back straight, it looks as if the answer may be, ‘Not enough.’ But as the two come into the home straight, the Briton finds that extra gear and pulls away from his rival to cross the line, victorious, in 27mins 5secs.

FRANCK FIFE

‘Having fallen in the early stages of the race, Farah rose to conquer once again,’ says Cotter. ‘We will talk about Farah as one of the greats for years to come.’ Mo, however, is not done yet. A week later, he will go on to win gold in the 5,000m, completing the double-double. In doing so, he will become the first man since Lasse Viren in 1976 to retain two Olympic distance titles.

Since then, Mo has moved to the marathon, setting the British and European record for the distance with his 2:05:11 victory at the 2018 Chicago Marathon. But it is on the track that he is still best remembered. And his victory in the 10,000m at Rio 2016, having picked himself off the floor to win gold, must rank as one of his finest hours.