The Rio Olympics track and field competition has barely started but we already have a new world record in the women’s 10,000 meters final.
Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana stunned spectators at Rio’s Olympic Stadium on Friday crossing the line in a time of 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds, smashing a record that has stood for nearly 23 years.
Ayana, the reigning world 5,000m champion, obliterated the field taking 14 seconds off the previous best set by China’s Junxia Wang in September 1993.
The 24-year-old Ayana was followed home by Kenya’s Vivian Cheriot with London 2012 champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia taking bronze.
A further two gold medals will be decided on the opening day of track and field — the men’s 20 kilometers walk and women’s shot put.