Olympics: Defar wins 5,000m gold again, eight years on

London, Aug 11 (IANS) Meseret Defar from Ethiopia produced the fastest turn of speed in the last 200 metres of the women's 5,000-metre to claim her second Olympic gold medal in the event here.

Defar, gold medal winner in Athens 2004, was able to outsprint Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya and her fellow Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba to claim gold.

"I'm very happy. It's a great day for me. Since 2008 I have tried everything as I wasn't able to win the Olympics," she said, following celebrations in which she had cried after crossing the finish line.

"I have been hoping for this day for a long time," she exhilerated. "I have won two Olympic medals before, this is my third. I'm not sure I can do a fourth, so this means a lot to me," said Defar.

Dibaba had gone into the race as double gold medal winner in 5,000 and 10,000 metres in Beijing and was in good form after winning the 10,000 metres final just a week ago. she said she had no complaints about failing to complete an Olympic double, although she commented she had not been fully fit.

"First of all, I am happy that the gold medal stayed in the hands of Ethiopia. And I would like to say congratulations to Meseret Defar for winning the gold," said Dibaba.

"Before I came to London for the Games, I didn't train for nine days because of injuries. I was taking medicines and painkillers. To win a gold medal and bronze is a great achievement for an injured athlete. I am happy to join the legends in Ethiopian athletics," said Dibaba.

Cheruiyot, 10,000-metre bronze medallist and reigning World Champion, had looked certain to challenge fellow Kenyans Viola Kibiwot and Sally Kipyego.