Almaz Ayana (L) of Ethiopia (L) celebrates after the women's 10000m at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 12, 2016. Almaz Ayana set a new world record and won the gold medal with a time of 29 minutes and 17.45 seconds. (Xinhua/Li Ming)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Almaz Ayana said she was "in awe" after smashing the world record to win the 10,000m at the Rio Olympics on Friday.
The 24-year-old finished in 29 minutes 17.45 seconds, to break the previous record held by China's Wang Junxia by more than 14 seconds.
Kenya's Vivian Cheruiyot, who took bronze at the London 2012 Games, was second in 29:32.53. Defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia grabbed bronze in 29:42.56.
"This means everything to me," Ayana said. "It's a huge deal. I never thought that this would happen. I'm so in awe.
"I have worked very hard. I wouldn't say that my recent training has been any different from before but it was hard and it was all worth it."
Ayana, the 5,000m world champion, was racing over 10,000m for only the second time in an official competition.
In June she registered the fastest 10,000m debut in history with 30:07.00 at the Ethiopian Olympic trials.
She is the first woman to set a 10,000m world record at an Olympic Games.
