The little Ethiopian, already world champion many times over, produced another one of her trademark finishes to win the first women's gold medal of this Olympic Games on Friday, leaving a clutch of records tumbling in her wake.

Dibaba claimed the 10000M gold in 29:54.66 after an engrossing battle with Elvan Abeylegesse of Turkey in arguably the finest race over the distance.

Though she could not break the world record of 29:31.78 set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993, Dibaba became only the second woman to go under 30 minutes in the event and pulled Abeylegesse also under that standard.
Dibaba's time bettered the Olympic record of 30:17.49 set by Derartu Tulu in 2000 while it was also quicker than the current African record. Abeylegesse, a former Ethiopian herself, clocked 29:56.34 for a European record while Shalane Flanagan of the United States, who clinched the bronze medal, cracked the American continental mark. And last but not the least, there was a world junior record too, for Linet Chepkwemoi Masai of Kenya, the fourth-place winner in 30:26.50. What more can you ask for from the first track final of the Games?

Dibaba was the favourite in the event, which also featured her sister Ejigayehu. But the early pacemakers were Lorna Kiplagat of the Netherlands and Tufa Mestawet of Ethiopia. Kiplagat took the field of 32 runners through some quick early laps but started fading away past the half-way mark, as Abeylegesse started revealing her intentions.

Abeylegesse, the joint-winner of the Bangalore 10K run earlier this year, was seemingly in control with eight to go, but with Dibaba in the race, there is no way anyone else can be in complete command. The Turk pulled away from the rest of the pack with six laps left and Dibaba followed suit, with the two opening up a massive lead between themselves and the rest of the runners.

It was a two-horse race from then on, and one could feel Dibaba preparing for her final burst nearing the last lap.
It came a few metres into the final 400, and Abeylegesse had no answer, even though it was her pace that pulled the best out of Dibaba.

Majewski triumphs

Poland's Tomasz Majewski was the surprise winner of the men's shot put earlier in the evening. Majewski, a world indoor bronze medalist, achieved a personal best of 21.51 metres to nail the American challenge that included world champion Reese Hoffa.

Results: Men: Shot put: Tomasz Majewski (Poland) 21.51 metres, 1; Christian Cantwell (USA) 21.09, 2; Andrei Mikhnevich (Belarus) 21.05, 3.

Women: 10000M: Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia) 29:54.66, 1; Elvan Abeylegesse (Turkey) 29:56.34, 2; Shalane Flangan (USA) 30:22.22, 3.