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Hicham El Guerrouj
One of the greatest middle distance runners, 29 year-old Hicham has won everything there is to win excepting an Olympic gold medal.
Born: September 14, 1974
Country: Morocco
Height: 180cm
Events: Track and Field (1500m, 5000m, 1 mile)
Olympics Record:
2000 Sydney Olympics: 2nd 1500m
Other Records:
2003 World Championship: 1st 1500m, 2nd 5000m
Gold in 1500m (2001, 1999 and 1997), Silver in 1500m (1995)
One of the greatest middle distance runners of all time, 29 year-old Hicham El Guerrouj has won everything there is to win in track and field excepting an Olympic gold medal which has so far eluded him.
At Athens he will be trying to do which no other athlete has done for the past 80 years-winning the 1500 and the 5000m event in the same Games.
Between 1996 and 2000 he set the world records at five indoor and outdoor distances, including the mile (3:43.13) and the 1500m (3:26). He broke the latter by a stunning 1.37 seconds. Then he won his second consecutive world 1500m title in 1999. Besides the Olympics, his only other loss came at a 1997 Grand Prix final in Japan where he struggled with jet lag. Soon after El Guerrouj started a new streak becoming the first man to win three consecutive IAAF Athlete of the Year awards, 2001 through 2003.
Though age may be catching up El Guerrouj remains the strongest contender in the track and field event. And he will be more determined to win the gold in Athens to cement his name as a legend.
