El Guerrouj retains double incentive

AthleticsThere are only two unwritten rules for those blessed with the press seats that almost touch the finishing line at the Olympic Stadium: don't stand up and roar at the athletes, and don't go looking for their autograph afterwards. Both rules were blatantly ignored during the men's 1,500 metres on Tuesday night.

When Hicham El Guerrouj was locked in that final battle with Bernard Lagat most of those in the press seats were standing and roaring, urging on the Moroccan to the gold medal he so definitely deserved. Later, when he walked towards the press conference, he was hustled by more of us to sign their results sheet - which he duly did.

Both rules are now reportedly lifted for Saturday's final of the men's 5,000 metres. If, as expected, it comes down to another battle between El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia then plenty more standing and roaring is expected. But no matter which one wins, their autographs will be equally appreciated. Both qualified with ease from heat one last night, Bekele just marginally in front.

It was way past midnight Athens time when El Guerrouj got to recount Tuesday night's moment of ecstasy, and how it finally felt to win the Olympic title after failing in both Atlanta and in Sydney. It soon became clear he was just as excited by the prospect of winning a second gold medal in the 5,000 metres. That, he said, would make up for the disappointments of his previous two Olympics.

"I said last year when I was doing the double in Paris that it was practice for the double in Athens. So I am very hungry to win the double, really keen to win another gold. And I can assure you it won't be the same as Paris. The tactics will be very different. I am so highly motivated now to win this. And I'll try my very, very best to win a second gold medal for Morocco."

El Guerrouj missed that second gold medal in Paris by the width of his vest, edged out in the final strides of the 5,000 metres by Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge, having already collected his 1,500-metre gold.

Bekele is equally intent on winning his second gold, and repeating the 5,000-10,000-metre double last achieved by another Ethiopian, Miruts Yifter back in 1980.

For the 1,500-5,000 double you have to go back to 1924 in Paris, when Paavo Nurmi of Finland won his two gold medals - and incredibly just two hours apart.

Clearly El Guerrouj won't be lacking in confidence, his 1,500-metre title won so commandingly, even if it did require a second draw on his will-power. His time of 3:34.18 was two seconds slower than the 3:32.07 Noah Ngeny ran to beat him in Sydney, but the statistics are far more impressive: a 1:46.8 last 800 metres; a 51.9 last lap - all of which was his making.

"I knew it wasn't time to hesitate," he said, referring to his surge to the front after 800 metres, passed in a slow 2:01.93. "So I tried to speed it, very steadily. With 400 metres to go I went up a gear. With 300 metres to go I went up another gear. Then at 200 metres I saw on the stadium screen they were still behind me. It was an incredible sensation, like an avalanche.

"But I knew I had the strength. I slowed a little at 200 metres. Then over those last 50 metres, the first thing I thought about was Sydney, that moment when Noah Ngeny overtook me. That night I didn't have any energy left. But this time I found that energy. I just felt like I was starting up again, and that I could win."

Lagat was asked if he though he'd made some miscalculation, and perhaps should have waited until close to the line: "No, I was always giving it 100 per cent," said the Kenyan. "I think El Guerrouj gave it 101 per cent."

The gold medal, added El Guerrouj, was something he'd thought about even before he started running: "When I was so young, I think two years old, I first dreamed about winning the Olympics. And I remember when I first asked my coach if I could win he doubted me.

"But no, this not my last major 1,500 metres. It may be that I'll take a year out in 2006, but I'll be defending that title in four years."

As he approached the end of the interview he took a mobile call from the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI, to whom he had apologised after Sydney. But he'd found a new inspiration since then. His five-month-old daughter, Hiba, whom he cradled on his lap of honour, was also the subject of the final tribute. "I ran for her, I ran for my family. Her name means gift from God. I think that gold medal was a gift from God."