Instead, Defar was Ethiopia’s top star at the Olympic Stadium Friday.
“After eight years I won gold again,” she said. “It’s a great achievement. I feel like I’ve been born again.”
Once she crossed the line, Defar produced a religious image of a Virgin and child to show to the cameras before breaking down, sobbing into the picture.
Defar and Dibaba have now combined to dominate their fierce rivals from Kenya over the long distance in London.
“The main thing is that the gold has returned to Ethiopia,” said Dibaba.
And going into the final weekend, Ethiopia now has three gold and six medals overall, compared to two gold and eight overall for its African neighbor.
Ethiopia had already upstaged the favored Kenyans in the women’s marathon last Sunday. In the Olympic Stadium where Vivian Cheruiyot had been expected to double over the long distances, the surprises kept coming.
“This is my third Olympics and the last two I’ve never got any medal,” Cheruiyot said. “At least I’ve got something today. I’ve tried my best.”
Defar wasn’t greedy for a double and had the power to pace her race perfectly while Dibaba and Cheruiyot faltered.
“My focus was on one race only,” Defar said. “I know both of them are very tough and I’ve lost to them many times. But today I felt very good about getting gold.”
Dibaba said she had been ill back home in Addis Ababa during a crucial stage of the season and could not train for nine days.
“Getting third place I consider equivalent to getting gold,” she said.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Source: The Washington post
Girefachew A.
August 11, 2012 at 5:08 am
I am thrilled with our Ethiopian golden girls who made us proud and walk the streets of London metropolis with heads up. To those who won gold medals, I take my hat off to you for the performance you have demonstrated competing against the best of the best and coming on top. And to those who are new to your first Olympic games, tried your very best but did not win any medals, don’t give up hope. You are leaving this event with wealth of experience under your belt, that might definitely propel you to become the best performers in the year 2016 competition in Brazil. Good luck and we are proud of you.
Alen
August 11, 2012 at 3:01 am
Right, where is the video? Put a weblink.
Ittu Aba Farda
August 11, 2012 at 2:47 am
This is another proudest moment for me. Our other daughter Meseret showed everyone who owns the highest podium. If it is not Tirunesh, then it would be her who will be standing on it and nobody else!!! This is called unity in action and unity for the sake of our people. I noticed such unity among our runners in both 10K and the women’s marathon. I have given up hope in the political arena among the opposition that such seamless unity and camaraderie will ever happen. But I tell them all this!!! Take a lesson from daughters of ours!!! For now, My Dear Daughters Tirunesh and Meseret, please take a bow from me!!! May Allah Bless You and Your Fellow Athletes!!! You are my only motivation and bragging rights !!! When others tell me they have Michael Fred Phelps, I tell them I also have Tirunesh!!! When they tell me that they have Usian Bolt, I tell them I also have Meseret!!! When they tell me that they have Michael Jordan and Wilma Rudolph, I tell them I have Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde. And when they brag about having Carl Lewis and I then shout back at them with pride telling them I have Miruts Yifter, The Shifter!!! Enough said!!!!!!!
Beka Tenesa
August 11, 2012 at 2:03 am
Where is the video?
Geto Aknaw
August 11, 2012 at 2:46 am
Great Meseret.