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El Guerrouj longing to set record straight at Olympics
Hicham El Guerrouj, hailed as the greatest 1,500m runner of all time, seeks to seal his place in sporting history by winning the Olympic gold that has always eluded him.
Hicham El Guerrouj, hailed by his peers as the greatest 1,500 metre runner of all time, seeks to seal his place in sporting history on Tuesday by winning the Olympic gold that has always eluded him.
The Moroccan, world record holder and four-times world champion, has a very large gap in his trophy cabinet which he is burning to fill.
Sebastian Coe, the only man to have won the Olympic 1,500 metres title twice, calls El Guerrouj "probably the best of us all" but his Olympic failures really eat away at the Moroccan.
"I reckon I must be one of the most unlucky athletes around as regards Sydney and Atlanta. This is my last chance to get a get a gold medal in the Olympics so I really want to do it," he said.
The Greeks, who at the start of the Games were reluctant to fill the stands in baking heat for sports they did not enjoy, have provided an electric atmosphere in the futuristic stadium and been rewarded with some stunning running.
After Sunday's thrilling men's 100 metres final, the women's 800 metres provided another tingling photo finish with Briton Kelly Holmes shaking off her reputation as the eternal bridesmaid to win in a blanket finish.
She extinguished the dream of friend and training partner Maria Mutola, who was hoping to land consecutive Olympic titles. The Mozambican stormed out of the stadium after finishing only fourth.
"I think my heart took me to the line," said the dazed Holmes, shaking off years of disappointment and injury woes. "This is the happiest I have ever been. I've been dreaming of this since I was 12."
