Sudden death of promising athlete

ATHLETICS: The 17-year-old fiancee of Kenenisa Bekele, Ethiopia's Olympic 10,000 metres gold medallist, collapsed and died during a training session in Addis Ababa yesterday.

Alem Techale, who was considered to have a great future after winning the world youth 1,500 metres title in 2003, had lived with Bekele for a year and they had arranged to marry in the Ethiopian capital on May 8th.

She was training with Bekele in Ararat, a forest in a hilly area on the outskirts of Addis Ababa, when she suddenly slumped to the ground.

"Alem had accompanied her fiancee for training early this morning but as soon as she started running she collapsed and died while she was being rushed to hospital in Kenenisa's car," said Tolosa Kotu, her coach.

The cause of the teenager's death was not immediately known. Her body was taken to her birthplace of Assela, 150 miles east of Addis Ababa, with the funeral due to be held today.

Bekele (22), who also finished second in the Olympic 5,000 metres and in 2004 set world records for the 5,000 and 10,000 metres, had talked in Athens of his relationship with Techale, who was from the same Arsi region he grew up in.

"After the age of 18, one has to start (to) think about fulfilling family responsibilities," he said. "Besides, since she is also young, we will grow together."

He had talked excitedly of how they might represent Ethiopia together at future championships. "I definitely hope so," he said.

Bekele was scheduled to leave Ethiopia next week for a series of races around the world, starting in Britain with the Great Edinburgh International cross country in Holyrood Park on January 15th. That was due to be followed by indoor races in Boston and Birmingham on January 29th and February 18th respectively.

Ireland's Alistair Cragg is entered for the Boston event.

With seven gold medals already in his short career, Bekele has won more individual world cross country titles than any other athlete in the history of the sport. It remains to be seen whether he can summon up the mental strength to chase an eighth in St Etienne, France on March 19th-20th.