Rio, August 20, 2016 – Kenya’s most decorated athlete, Vivian Cheruiyot has won the gold medal in 5, 000 metres race at the ongoing Olympic Games in Rio, leaving the favourite, Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia to contend with the bronze medal.
Cheruiyot won Kenya’s first ever women’s gold medal over the distance, cementing her legacy as a long-distance great. From London 2012, she already had a silver medal in the discipline, as well as a bronze in 10,000m.
In Rio, she came second in the 10,000m final, where Ayana shaved 14 seconds off the world record in one of the greatest ever long-distance races.
“I’m really grateful today. I’m so happy. This was my fourth Olympics. I’ve been dreaming about a gold medal, but it has finally come today. I was really happy when I was crossing the line. Ayana was the favourite in the 5,000m. But I believe there is no-one who is unbeatable,” said the Olympic champion. “This might be the last Olympics for me.”
