World Record: 14:36.45 Fernanda Ribeiro, Portugal - Kechtel, Belgium - 223 July 1995
Olympic Record: First time Women 5000m was hold. It replaced 1992 Women 3000m.
Fearsome finisher Sonia O’Sullivan (IRL), the World Champion, and
Gabriela Szabo (ROU) were the favourites, but Szabo ran poorly in her
heat and was eliminated. The same fate befell Mary Slaney (USA),
who had made the US team 23 years after first competing for her country.
Slaney’s result was later annulled when a doping violation earlier
in 1996 was confirmed. O’Sullivan set the inaugural Olympic record
with 15:15.80, but the fastest in the heats was Konga who ran 15:07.01.
The lead changed hands a number of times in the early stages of the
final, but Konga led at 1000m (3:06.2), 2000m (6:08.9) and 3000m
(9:08.02) points. O’Sullivan had held second place in the early stages,
but was soon suffering in the heat (28°C) and eventually dropped out.
Konga continued to lead, with only Wang able to keep in contact. The
3000m and 10,000m world record holder struck with two laps to go.
Her penultimate circuit took 67.5 seconds and gave her a 30m margin.
Wang eased down in the last lap, saving herself for the 10,000m.
China
Kenya
Italy
Japan
Great Britain
Russia
Romania
United States
Sweden
Ethiopia
New Zealand
Switzerland
Ireland
GER
BRA
ESP
AUS
NGR
CAN
DEN
POR
LAT
RSA
ROM
MAR
KAZ
NCA
