Reigning champion Mo Farah survived a “nerve-wracking” trip from behind to secure his place in the Olympic final of the men’s 5,000m in Rio yesterday.
The Briton, who recovered from a fall to retain his 10,000m crown last weekend, was clipped by American Hassan Mead but stayed on his feet to finish third in his heat and preserve his hopes of a double-double.
“I’ve got such a long stride, I find it hard,” he told reporters after clocking 13 minutes, 25.25 seconds behind Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet and Albert Rop of Bahrain.
“I always get tripped or tangled up with someone but I managed to stay on my feet. It was quite nerve-wracking again.”
On Saturday, Farah will be seeking to become the first man since Finland’s Lasse Viren in 1976 to retain two Olympic distance title after completing the double in London four years ago.
“It’s possible,” said the 33-year-old, who has already achieved the world double-double, successfully defending his titles in Beijing last year.
“But you look at these guys and they’re ready for me. I just have to get myself back in that frame of mind and get ready. But I’m still hungry and I still want it — and that’s the important thing.”
Farah confessed to still being fatigued from his exertions in the 10,000m, when he overcame a fall midway through the race to power home ahead of Kenya’s Paul Tanui.
“I was a little bit tired today,” said the Somali-born star. “In the 10,000 I was on the edge and nothing was going to get in my way. Now it’s like (I’m) a little bit distracted and I need to get back in the zone and focus.
“You do take yourself away from it sometimes,” he added. “That’s what I did as soon as I won the 10,000. It’s just normal stuff. You go through a lot and it’s a wake-up now, you go: ‘look, the job ain’t done yet.’ I have to lock myself in a room and get ready for this race.”
Farah, who complained his shoulder still hurts when he sleeps following his 10,000m fall, was thankful to survive his latest scrape.
“You’ve got to get through the rounds, no one’s going to give it to you,” he said. “Now I’ve just to recover — ice bath, the whole stuff, see the medical team and get in that zone again.”
Asked if he thought he would be targeted for more rough tactics in the final, Farah rolled his eyes and laughed: “As always, as always!”