After 5,400 metres, Britain's Nick Rose suddenly surged past Treacy, accelerating into a 10-metre lead in a matter of seconds.

On the next home straight, Italy's Alberto Cova and Finland's Martti Vainio began to pursue Rose.

Britain's Michael McLeod took the original bronze medal with an impressive final kick, crossing the finish line in 28:06.22.

West Germany's Christoph Herle and Kenya's Sosthenes Bitok had to settle for the chasing group's minor places.

(YouTube — tommytempo1 (up to three videos on the race); an Italian-language video on the last 500 metres of the race (Grandi vittori)) - YouTube; The Big Olympic Book / Suuri olympiakirja, Helsinki, Finland, 1984 (Juoksija-lehti / The Runner Magazine); The Big Olympic Work / Suuri olympiateos, Helsinki, Finland, 1984.)