GoldMeseret DEFAR, ETH
I did not want to repeat the tactical error from Helsinki. Back in Paris 2003 I did not qualify. I had only one goal today at my third world championships. I achieved the world record this year and I wanted the gold medal. Finally I'm the world champion. My tactics was to wait until the last two laps and then start my finish. In the last lap I controlled the situation in the first 200 m and then started the kick. Today the weather was excellent and I felt a lot better than in the heats. At that time it was hot and I had stomach problems. We have rain now in Ethiopia and I could not train well. I am the champion and that is great. In Beijing I will run the 5,000m and maybe in future I will try the 10,000m.
Tirunesh Dibaba is a very strong athlete and a very good competitor for me. I am sorry she is sick and she is not here. But she is the 10,000m champion and I am the 5,000m world champion so that is good.
I ran for my country and I wanted the gold medal, and today, I was 100% sure I would win. We will celebrate the Ethiopian Millenium in September, so it will be a double celebration for me, being the world champion and celebrating the new millenium.
Silver - Vivian CHERUIYOT, KEN
I am so excited about my silver medal. These are my first World Championships in track and I have the silver medal. I was expecting to be second because Meseret is very strong, especially on the last lap. The race started very slow, but with only five laps to go, I started to push. On the last 400 metres I was trying my best to catch up with Meseret but I did not succeed. Still, I am satisfied with my second position. Next time, I will try to do better. Kenya came second, third and fourth - this is extraordinary.
Bronze - Priscah Jepleting CHERONO, KEN
With 100m to go I was blocked, so I had to push really hard to make my way to the bronze. We didn't hope for such a good result for Kenya. This medal gives me confidence for the future.
6th place - Meselech MELKAMU, ETH
It was quite tough, especially towards the end. We had hoped to take first through third, but we did not succeed. We were aiming to break away with two laps to go, and we tried, but I could not keep up with the speed.
