Off Track ..... Kenyans know 'French guy's' name now

Frenchman Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad was such an unknown quantity before finishing second in the Olympic 3,000m steeplechase on Monday that even his fellow medalists had never heard of him.

The 23-year-old, who ended a run of five Olympics where Kenyans had won at least gold and silver, had only once previously appeared at a major meeting, when he failed to reach the final at the World Championships in Osaka last year.

"Now the Kenyans know me," he said. "I think I was able to send out a message today because often we see many Kenyans on the podium and today I was there."