In the second-fastest 5,000 meter final in history, world record holder Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda captured the first Olympic gold medal of his career with a 12:58.15 win. Canada's Mohamed Ahmed took silver in 12:58.61 but the dramatics came for bronze as Team USA's Paul Chelimo leaned across the finish line and fell to the ground to take third in 12:59.05 – just .12 seconds ahead of Kenya's Nicholas Kipjorir Kimeli.
Chelimo won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics in this event behind Great Britain's Mo Farah, who won gold in the 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters at the last two Olympics.