At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, he became the third man in history to successfully defend an Olympic 10,000 metres title (after Emil Zátopek and Lasse Virén).
Nos Xogos Olímpicos de Sidney, converteuse no terceiro home na historia en defender o título olímpico dos 10.000 metros satisfactoriamente (logo de Emil Zátopek e Lasse Virén).