2012 Olympics - Opening Weekend

A BLUR OF NATIONS · For fans of distance running, this weekend was nirvana. The Olympics featured the men's and women's 10,000 meter finals and the women's marathon. Saturday's 10,000 meter race, shown here, ended with a thrill, as Mo Farah of Great Britain and Galen Rupp of the U.S. finished 1-2.

Photo by David Gray / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

GOLD IN SIGHT · Farah runs through the final turn, with Ethiopia's Tariku Bekele trailing.

Photo by David Eddie Keogh / Reuters
 Text by Chris Kraft

AN OREGONIAN KICK · Farah, who trains with Rupp under coach Alberto Salazar in Oregon, glances back as he nears the finish. Said Rupp, "I was running for my life the last 50. ... I knew that if I could just stick with Mo, good things would happen."

Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

TRANSCONTINENTAL SUCCESS · Farah celebrates with training partner and silver medalist Rupp.

Photo by Dylan Martinez / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

GOLDEN MOMENT · Farah reacts after winning Great Britain's first Olympic gold medal in the 10,000 meter.

Photo by Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

LOVE ALL AROUND · Both medalists are coached by Salazar, who said: "I feel the way any parent would: It's better that they achieved this than if I had. This is probably the greatest day of my life after the day I married my wife, and the day my children were born."

Photo by Phil Noble / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

FAMILY AFFAIR · As Farah kisses his wife, Tania, daughter Rihanna makes a face. Farah said having his wife and daughter join him after winning was the best moment of his life.

Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

TRULY GREAT, BRITAIN · Sir Paul McCartney was at Olympic Stadium, with daughter Stella McCartney (left) and wife Nancy Shevell (right), to witness one of Britain's grandest nights in track and field. In a span of 44 minutes on Saturday, Jessica Ennis (heptathlon), Greg Rutherford (long jump), and Farah all won gold for the host country.

Photo by Kai Pfaffenbach / Reuters
Text by Chris Kraft

AND THEY'RE OFF · The women's Olympic marathon gets underway in London on Sunday, August 5th. The lead pack would remain fairly large through the halfway point.

Photo by Mark Blinch / Reuters
Text by Meghan Loftus

SOAKED SPECTATORS · Heavy rain greeted fans and runners early in the race, which went past a number of iconic London landmarks (including Big Ben, pictured). The sun did come out later–briefly.

Photo by Eddie Keogh / Reuters
Text by Meghan Loftus

THE FIRST SURGE · In a moment reminiscent of Friday's women's 10,000, a pack of Ethiopians and Kenyans were the first to pull away. Kiplagat and Dibaba would drop to finish 20th and 23rd, respectively.

Photo by Mark Blinch / Reuters
Text by Meghan Loftus

RECORD TIME · Ethiopia's Tiki Gelana won the marathon in an Olympic record of 2:23:07. Silver medalist Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya also ran under the previous record (2:23:14) in 2:23:12.

Photo by Chris Helgren / Reuters
Text by Meghan Loftus

TOUGH RACE · Training partners Shalane Flanagan and Kara Goucher finished 10th and 11th, respectively. Flanagan said after, "This course trashes your legs, all the stop and go." Desi Davila, the other U.S. marathoner, had been battling injuries and dropped out early.

Photo by Mark Blinch / Reuters
Text by Meghan Loftus

JAPANESE FURY · In the 10,000 meter final on Friday, August 3rd, Fukushi, Yoshikawa and Niiya pull away for an early lead they would not be able to sustain.

Photo by Dylan Martinez / Reuters
Text by Dana Blinder

A GOLDEN REPEAT · Instead, Tirunesh Dibaba from Ethiopia defends her title as the Olympic champion.

Photo by Dylan Martinez / Reuters
Text by Dana Blinder

A KENYAN CELEBRATION · Sally Kipyego takes the silver and Vivian Cheruiyot wins bronze.

Photo by Phil Noble / Reuters
Text by Dana Blinder