Ethiopia's 2004 gold medallist Meseret Defar regained her Olympic 5,000 metres title Friday, powering dramatically past defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba in the final straight.
Defar accelerated to the line in 15 minutes 4.25 seconds, with Kenya's world champion Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot taking the silver half a second back.
Tirunesh Dibaba, the world record holder, flagged in the last 50 metres to drop to the bronze medal in 15:05.15.
Defar was a bronze medalist in Beijing four years ago.
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Ethiopia's Meseret Defar reacts as she crosses the finish line to win the 5000-meter final during the
athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.
Ethiopia's Meseret Defar (L) is congratulated by Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene after winning the women's 5000m final at the athletics event of the
London 2012 Olympic Gameson August 10, 2012 in London.
Meseret Defar of Ethiopia places a picture of Saint Mary and Jesus Christ over her face as she celebrates winning gold in the Women's 5000m Final on Day 14 of the
London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 10, 2012 in London, England.
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Ethiopia's gold medalist Meseret Defar (L) and Ethiopia's bronze medalist Tirunesh Dibaba Kenene celebrate after women's 5000m final at the athletics event of the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 10, 2012 in London.
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Women's 5000-meter gold medalist from Ethiopia, Meseret Defar, center, poses with
Kenya's silver medalist Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot, left, and Ethiopia's bronze medalist Tirunesh Dibaba
, right, during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics, London, Friday, Aug. 10, 2012.