(CNN) Britain’s Mo Farah is bidding to become only the second man in Olympic history to successfully defend a “Double-Double” over 5,000 and 10,000 meters.
One of the most dominant distance runners in history, the 33-year-old is attempting Saturday to match the record of Lasse Viren — the “Flying Finn” — who managed to do it at Montreal 40 years ago.
On August 13 Farah made it a second Olympic gold in a row in the 10,000m, even surviving a fall.
Four days later he was almost tripped again during the final lap of qualifying in heat one of the 5,000m, but managed to stay on his feet.
On the Games’ penultimate day, apart from the nightmare scenario of another trip, the biggest threat to Farah in cementing his legacy could come from the teamwork of a strong contingent of Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes.
Brazil holds its breath
While British athletics fans — who have taken Somalia-born Farah to their hearts — will be on the edges of their seats, Brazilians will equally be on tenterhooks.
The Olympic host nation’s footballers will be looking to claim a gold medal that the whole country is desperate for them to win as they take on Germany in the men’s final at the Maracana stadium in Rio.
Brazil’s player Neymar (R) gets away from Honduras goalkeeper Luis Lopez during their semi-final match. Today they’re taking on Germany in the second Olympic final in a row.
When Brazil faced Germany in the semifinal of the World Cup in Brazil two years ago, it was an awful night for the Brazilians as they lost 7-1 to the eventual champions.
They will be looking to right that wrong in the Maracana and also win the gold medal in the soccer tournament for the first time in the nation’s history.
A controversial champ?
Meanwhile the story of the day for South Africa is Caster Semenya, who starts as a red-hot favorite to upgrade on her Olympic silver medal in the women’s 800m from London four years ago.
The South African would be seen as a controversial champion by some as she has hyperandrogenism that leads to her body creating abnormally high levels of testosterone.
