[1] Perhaps after watching the slow start four years earlier, this time Kenyans wanted less drama than their casual sweep of 1992.

Moses Kiptanui got a poorer start but simply ran around the outside of the pack and joined Keter from barely 150 metres into the race and that was it.

Defending champion Matthew Birir made it a touch more dramatic by being last off the line and took all of an additional 50 metres to join the pack at the front.

With three laps to go, Alessandro Lambruschini passed Boulami and Carosi to become the only one to challenge the 10 metre lead the Kenyans had built.

10 metres later Lambruschini crossed the line with a bronze medal reward for improving over finishing fourth the previous two Olympics.