Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele joined compatriot Haile Gebrselassie as a four-time 10,000 metres world champion on Monday as he surged to victory with a trademark last-lap burst. Bekele clocked 26:46.31, a championship best but well off his world record mark, to claim his sixth consecutive 10,000 metres global title.
The 27-year-old has won the past two Olympics plus the four world championships stretching back to 2003.
Eritrea's Zersenay Tadese led him to the bell but was left trailing for silver in 26:50.12 with the bronze going to Moses Masai of Kenya in 26:57.39.
There was a shock in the women's 3,000m steeplechase as Spain's Marta Dominguez won gold, with Olympic champion and odds-on favourite Gulnara Galkina managing only fourth.
Primoz Kozmus won Slovenia's first-ever gold medal as he claimed victory in the men's hammer.
Kozmus added the world title to his Olympic crown with a best effort of 80.84m.
The day's other gold medal went to Cuba's Yargeris Savigne, whose leap of 14.95m was good enough to win the women's triple jump.