Reaching their first Olympic podium, Kenya's Paul Tanui was the silver medallist and Tamirat Tola of Ethiopia took the bronze.

The medals were presented by Lydia Nsekera, IOC member, Burundi and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, Vice President of the IAAF.

Kamworor and the third Kenyan Bedan Karoki Muchiri had beaten Farah at the 2016 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships five months earlier.

[5] For the first quarter of the race, Farah stayed in last, content to let the Kenyans and three Ethiopians exchange the lead, though he was tracked by Kenya's Muchiri.

After this point the increased pace fractured the pack Farah returned to his marking position, usually fourth place behind the Kenyans with occasional surges by Ethiopians Tamirat Tola and Yigrem Demelash.

Breaking away from the remaining pack, the two Ethiopians, Tanui, Farah, Rupp and Joshua Kiprui Cheptegei continued in close order.

Coming off the turn, Farah attacked with a gear Tanui's awkward running form could not match, building a half a second margin of victory down the final 100 metres and crossing the line with his Mobot celebration.