Hicham El Guerrouj

Earlier in the day, Hicham El Guerrouj who was the sentimental favourite won
the 1500 m. This was another race. For the amount of romance for the sportslover
in the Olympics, there could perhaps be a category of poetry composed every 4
years! Hicham had fallen in the Atlanta Olympics in his best event and was
without a medal in 1996.

In Sydney the Kenyan Lagat had outsprinted him in the
last few metres. Hicham was thus looking to his first Olympic gold in the
event, the fact that the WR in his name notwithstanding. In fact Lagat has the
2nd best time. Earlier this year when Lagat beat Hicham at Zurich with a
scorching time, the only person with a better timing in all time was Noureddine
Morceli, a legend in his own right, until Hicham came along.

Usually middle/long distance (esp. marathon) runners don't race from the start. Most
prefer to sprint late. The only exception I know is Paula Radcliffe, to whom I
shall dedicate another blog who races from the word "go", decimating opposition.
Anyways, in this race there were 3 Kenyans, the youngest being used to set the
pace. He did the 1st lap at a good pace leading the pack. However Hicham took
the lead from the 2nd lap and kept improving his strides. This was startling
since one would think that Hicham would stick to his known technique of
finishing well sprinting the last lap. But then when destiny beckons, the great
ones cock a snook at history! Hicham was soon joined by Lagat who kept up with
him for the 2nd and 3rd laps and they broke away from the pack. In the last lap
Lagat had the faster paces, however Hicham held on to the slender lead and if
there had been even another 20m, Lagat would have won! One could see Lagatr
stretching every sinew to beat Hicham in the race. After the race, Hicham
broke down and Lagat embraced him, trying to console the winner. May Pierre's
Coubertin's soul rest in peace!

The young kenyan who selflessly set the pace
came last. But then he's 19 years old and may well be the next big star of
Kenya. Hicham will in all probability settle down in life with his newly born
kid. Post race, he went around doing the customary Olympic winner routine,
finding someone with his or her country's flag and then doing the lap of honour.
He also did an impromptu jig in front of the doting crowd which was backing him.