LONDON, Aug 5: Mo Farah delivered on all the huge pre-Games hype with a coruscating run to become Britain’s first 10,000 metres Olympic champion in front of an ecstatic home crowd on Saturday.

The 29-year-old, who also became the first man to win this event on home soil, took the gold medal with a time of 27 minutes 30.42 seconds, half a second ahead of his American training partner Galen Rupp who grabbed a surprise second place.

Ethiopia’s Tariku Bekele claimed bronze with his older brother Kenenisa, who was bidding for an unprecedented third 10,000m Olympic gold, in fourth.

“I just can’t believe it, the crowd got behind me so much. I’ve never experienced anything like this. The best moment of my life, something I’ve worked so hard for,” said Farah, who had dropped to his knees in elation after crossing the line.

“My legs were getting tired and I had to dig in that last bit. But the crowd helped me to get through. Unbelievable. My childhood, my coaches, I can’t thank enough people.”—Reuters