Track and field: Historic middle-distance doubles

ATHENS — Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj and Britain's Kelly Holmes gave the Athens Games two of its greatest moments yesterday by surging to victory on the track to claim historic Olympic doubles.

El Guerrouj won the men's 5,000 meters to add to his 1,500 title, emulating the achievement of Finland's Paavo Nurmi in 1924.

"I had a message from a friend today saying that in 1997 Athens discovered a prince and now it would pay homage to a king," El Guerrouj said, referring to the first of his 1,500 world titles won in Greece seven years ago.

"This stayed with me. When I woke up today I said to myself: 'This is going to be my day.' "

El Guerrouj's win decided a showdown with Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, who had been hoping to complete his own double by adding the 5,000 title to his 10,000 crown.

The Moroccan passed Bekele with about 50 meters left and finished in 13 minutes, 14.39 seconds, smiling and extending his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line. He kissed his hands and his right knee before touching his head to the track in prayer.

Then he took off his new shoes and ran a victory lap in bare but bandaged feet. He had worn shoes that were too small during qualifying.

Bekele, who was trying to become the first man in 24 years to win the 5,000 and 10,000 at an Olympics, finished second in 13:14.59. Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya, who led until the final lap, won bronze in 13:15.10.

Holmes became only the third woman in history to win both the 800 and 1,500 at the same Olympics, producing a masterful run over the longer distance to take gold.

Holmes broke free of the pack in the final 100 meters to win in 3:57.90. The former army sergeant joined Svetlana Masterkova in 1996 and Tatyana Kazankina in 1976 in completing the rare double.

"I am just gobsmacked," Holmes said. "I was trying to place myself in the right position when I needed to. I was holding on for dear life. I could see them coming. The whole experience has just been amazing."

Tatyana Tomashova of Russia won the silver in 3:58.12. Maria Cioncan of Romania got the bronze in 3:58.39.

Other winners

Russia's Yuriy Borzakovskiy rallied from fourth place on the final straightaway to win the men's 800 in 1:44.45. World-record holder Wilson Kipketer of Denmark took the bronze in 1:44.65.

With about 50 meters to go, Kipketer still looked poised for gold before he weakened. South African Mbulaeni Tongai Mulaudzi won the silver in 1:44.61.

Yelena Slesarenko of Russia set an Olympic record of 6 feet, 9 inches to win gold in the women's high jump. Amy Acuff of the United States was fourth.

Andreas Thorkildsen of Norway won the javelin with a throw of 283-9, giving his country its first gold in the men's event since 1956.

Breaux Greer, who had hoped to become the first American to win the javelin since Cyrus Young in 1952, finished last of the 12th finalists with a best throw of 243-11 — nearly 43 feet off his personal best. Greer was competing despite a torn knee ligament that required him to wear a plastic brace on his right leg.

Notes

• The U.S. team finished with 24 track medals, tops among all nations and the most by Americans since 30 in 1992. The men had 18 — also the best showing since 1992 — but the six women's medals were the fewest since three in 1976.

• Jeremy Wariner decided to turn pro after winning two gold medals. Wariner announced his decision after taking gold with the 1,600 relay team, adding to the gold he won in the 400. He plans to stay at Baylor to continue his education.

• A top Greek official questioned the role of IOC president Jacques Rogge in a doping case involving Greece's top two sprinters. Vassilis Sevastis, president of the Greek track federation, said Rogge had asked about the whereabouts of Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou hours before they missed drug tests on the eve of the Olympics and set a two-hour deadline for the information.