Double glory for El Guerrouj

Hicham El Guerrouj completed a second golden double of the night as victory in the men’s 5,000metres final created his own piece of history.

The Moroccan, who riumphed in the 1,500m final on Tuesday, followed up with another dazzling win over the longer distance.

El Guerrouj became the first man since Paavo Nurmi in 1924 to win the 1,500m and 5,000m double.

Kelly Holmes had just completed her own golden double of 800m and 1,500m titles when El Guerrouj set about his bid for a second gold of the Athens Games.

Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, looking for a gold double himself after winning the men’s 10,000m, led in the home straight.

But El Guerrouj had enough strength to force his way past Bekele in the closing stages of the race and claim his double gold moment.

Guerrouj won in a time of 13 minutes 14.19 seconds, with Bekele taking the silver in 13mins 14.59secs and Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge claiming the bronze in 13:15.10.