Yeah that was a great last 100m or so for him. If he had that kick for 200m he might have gotten the gold (maybe). Did I hear right, that is the USA first medal in that event since 1964?
Yes!
Yes, I believe so. The (then-unheralded) Billy Mills won the 10,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. As it happens, Rupp's silver was only the third medal that U.S. men have ever won in the Olympic 10,000 meters. Louis Tewanima took the silver at the Stockholm games in 1912, the first time that the 10,000 meter race had been held in the Olympics.
Interestingly enough, both Mills (Lakota Sioux tribe) and Tewanima (Hopi tribe) were American Indians.
It was only the third medal in the 10,000 meters in 104 years. We won a silver in 1912 and a gold in 1964. We should really be celebrating Rupp’s achievement.