Mo Farah wrote his name into the record books by completing a hattrick of long-distance doubles at global championships by retaining his world 5,000 metres title in Beijing.

The 32-year-old followed up his 10,000 metres triumph by storming to gold over the shorter distance to rack up his seventh straight global crown – an unprecedented period of domination.

The slow early pace, set by Farah’s team-mate Tom Farrell at the front early on, played into his hands and he took advantage, unleashing his devastating kick past Kenya’s Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku in the final 150m to cross the line a comfortable winner in 13 minutes 50.38 seconds.

The Kenyans had worked as a team in the 10,000m to try to neutralise Farah’s finishing speed and, although it did not work, it was expected his rivals would try something similar again.

Instead the early pace was slow, Farah loitering at the back. He took closer order with seven laps to go and then moved on to the shoulder of Imane Merga as the Ethiopian hit the front with three laps to go.

Ndiku did at least try to pose a problem for the Briton, moving up a gear in a long bid for home with 800m remaining and finally stretching out the field.

But Farah is the master at fast finishing and he went with the Kenyan before bursting past him as they headed into the home straight for the final time. Ndiku had no answer and had to dig in to hold on for silver in 13mins 51.75secs. Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet took bronze.

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Farah wore a crown as he celebrated on his lap of honour. And with good reason. This win heralded a record-breaking achievement.

Before yesterday no man – not even Ethiopian great Kenenisa Bekele – had won the long-distance double at more than one World Championships.

Farah has not only managed it twice, but done so on the back of his twin Olympic triumph in 2012. Not since the 10,000m at the 2011 Worlds in Daegu, when he took silver, has he tasted defeat in a major outdoor final.

“It is great to make history,” Farah told BBC Sport. “I didn’t feel great, my hammy (hamstring) was playing up a bit, but the medical team helped me through it and tonight to come out here and make a double means so much to me.

“I was kind of getting nervous for the first time in a little while, but thanks to all the medical team. It was amazing to do it.”

Farah’s pregnant wife Tania and young family were not in Beijing, but back at his home in Portland, Oregon, and he added: “I am so looking forward to spending time with my family. I just want to go home and celebrate with them.”

He was labelled the greatest British sportsman by former long-distance runner Brendan Foster, and said: “We had people such as David Beckham and the rest of the guys, we have had so many legends and to be in the same category as them is amazing. If you believe in something you can get there. Do what you can.

“I never doubt myself. I love the sport, I love what I do and I just want to continue that. Everything comes with obstacles and you just have to get them out of the way.”