Leonel Manzano's silver was the first medal for the United States in the men's 1500 metres since 1968.

That race was broken up when Nixon Chepseba tripped sending several athletes scrambling to avoid the falling body.

Chepseba ultimately finished 9th but was awarded a place in the semi-final on appeal, though no offending athlete was disqualified.

Earlier on the day before the final, Makhloufi was also in an 800 metres qualifying round race, but he ran slowly and dropped out.

Behind him runners were three abreast, with Makhloufi and Silas Kiplagat trading elbows to be in position for the final lap.

With Makhloufi gone, 8 meters ahead, Gebremedhin took over second at the head of the stretch, Iguider sprinting a step behind.

Iguider just barely managed to finish a fraction ahead of the fast closing Centrowitz for the bronze medal.

Kiprop was the reigning world champion as well as defending gold medalist; the rest of the Kenyan team (Silas Kiplagat and Nixon Chepseba) was strong as well, with an outside chance of a medal sweep considered.

The United States made its 26th appearance, most of all nations (having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games).