Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics – Men's 10,000 metres

The 10,000 metres at the 2000 Summer Olympics as part of the athletics programme were held at Stadium Australia on Friday 22 September, and Monday 25 September 2000.

Contents

• Records
• Results
• Qualifying heats
• References

The top eight runners in each of the initial two heats automatically qualified for the final. The next four fastest runners from across the heats also qualified. There were a total number of 34 participating athletes.

Without Haile Gebreselassie, Paul Tergat would have won everything since the previous Olympics. He was the silver medalist in the previous Olympics and the ensuing two world championships. He was the World Cross Country Champion five times in a row in Gebreselassie's absence. The final broke down to a team race, with three Kenyans vs Ethiopians Gebreselassie and Assefa Mezgebu. With a lap to go, John Korir held the lead marked by Gebreselassie, with Tergat marking him. Mezgebu moved from behind Tergat to Gebreselassie's shoulder, boxing Tergat along the rail through the penultimate turn. Down the backstretch, Tergat slowed down a step to get out of the box, then sprinting around the outside, past everyone. The sprint was on. Unlike previous finals, Tergat had the drop on Gebreselassie, making him chase, with only Mezgebu able to hold on behind. Down the homestretch both were in full sprint, Tergat ahead, Gebreselassie making microscopic progress but not advancing enough to pass. Gebreselassie continued to press, drawing even with less than ten metres to go. Tergat strained, his last several steps losing his balance while Gebreselassie held form to take the gold again.