Wilson Kiprugut of Kenya improved on his 1964 bronze to take silver, becoming the seventh man to win a second medal in the 800 metres.

Tom Farrell's bronze put the United States back on the podium for the first time since 1956.

Dieter Fromm pushed the first backstretch to get back in contact with the two frontrunners, with teenager Jozef Plachý in tow.

Through the penultimate turn, Kiprugut separated off the front again, Cayenne fell back through the field.

Again on the backstretch, worked hard to regain contact with Kiprugut, bringing Doubell with him still on the outside of the lane.

With a 5 metre gap back to Fromm, it was a two man race to the finish, Doubell sprinting to chase the tiring Kiprugut.

Save Dave Wottle's victory the following Olympics, USA has only won four more bronze medals after Farrell.