Matthew Centrowitz (1st, R) of the United States of America competes during the men's 1500m final of Athletics at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. Matthew Centrowitz won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
RIO DE JANEIRO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Matt Centrowitz became the first American to win the Olympic men's 1,500m final in more than a century, holding off a late challenge from Algeria's Taoufik Makhloufi here on Saturday.
The 26-year-old took gold in three minutes 50.00 seconds, just 0.11 seconds ahead of Makhloufi. New Zealand's Nick Willis grabbed bronze.
Mel Sheppard was the last American to win the event at the 1908 Olympics in London.
Gold medal favorite Asbel Kiprop of Kenya finished sixth after falling midway through the race.
