London 2012: Alptekin leads Turkey 1-2 in women's 1500m
Asli Cakir Alptekin led a shock 1-2 for Turkey when she won the women's Olympic 1500m on Friday in 4min 10.23sec, handing her country a first-ever gold medal in track and field.
Asli Cakir Alptekin led a shock 1-2 for Turkey when she won the women's Olympic 1500m on Friday in 4min 10.23sec, handing her country a first-ever gold medal in track and field.
European champion Alptekin, who served a two-year doping ban from 2004-6, kicked for home and held her nerve for gold ahead of fast-finishing teammate Gamze Bulut.
Bulut, who also took European silver behind Alptekin in Helsinki and has improved her time in the event by almost 15sec this season, took silver in 4:10.40.
Bahrain's Ethiopian-born import Maryam Jamal claimed bronze a further 0.34sec adrift.
The Turkish medal haul doubled the two silvers Ethiopian-born Elvan Abeylegesse won in the women's 5000 and 10,000m in 2008.
Turkey's two other Olympic track and field medals were bronzes won by Esref Apak in the men's hammer in 2004 and Ruhi Sarialp in the men's triple jump in 1948.