Ecstasy turned to heartbreak and finally relief for Paul Chelimo Saturday night, as the American earned, lost and regained a hard-won silver medal in the men's 5,000 meters.
The 25-year-old finished second as Briton Mo Farah claimed his second consecutive Olympic gold in the event, and had already taken his lap of honor when he was informed by an NBC television reporter that he had been disqualified. Chelimo appeared stunned and, after watching a video replay of him jostling another runner, was adamant that no violation had occurred.
He vowed to appeal the ruling, and won out in a rare reversal by the IAAF, track and field's international governing body.