Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia celebrates winning the men's 10,000m final (© Getty Images)
Helsinki, FinlandWearing a white and black band on his left wrist, signifying his opposition to racial prejudice, and a pair of custom made black Nike spikes on his feet, Kenenisa Bekele successfully defended his World 10,000m title with a tremendous finishing kick on Monday night.
Enthusiastically chatting
A torrential downpour had cooled the air but Bekele covered the final lap in a shade over 54 seconds despite looking over his shoulder several times in the finishing straight. Then he spent what seemed like an eternity in the athlete/media ‘mixed zone’ chatting with anyone with a microphone or notepad. If it were not for a committed official, he would likely have stayed longer to share his joy.
Smiling throughout he was the last of the three medalists to take his seat at the post race press conference. Surprising many, he declined the services of an Amharic interpreter to address the gathering in English. But he turned serious, almost breaking into tears as he recalled the ordeal he suffered eight months ago.
“It has not been easy this year,” he revealed. “I haven’t prepared as well. I lost my fiancée. I loved her very much. She was very important to me. I had to stop running and asked ‘how come she died?’ She wasn’t injured. Thanks to God I have come back.”
Though he tried to convince the media he was less than his best, the results simply haven’t supported his contention. Miraculous ‘back to back’ performances at the World Cross Country Championships in France, while he was still in mourning, defied belief last March, and on 29 May he attacked his own World record in Hengelo settling for 26:28.72 - the fourth fastest time in history in poor weather conditions.
‘No’ to the double but let’s see what the team says
There will be no doubles here though if he is able to withstand team pressure. In Paris two years ago, in Athens last year and again just prior to the World Cross Country Championships in March he insisted he would only run one race. Yet, he has always agreed reluctantly if you listen to his manager, Jos Hermens to chase another medal for his country.
“He wants to be on the team and he is proud to run for his country but he has to think about the long term,” Hermens declared. “Ten years from now you are going to look at how many World titles he won - and he’s winning a lot in cross country. So if it’s 20 or 25 it’s not important to have another two hard 5000m races on the track with less recovery than other years. So it is better to go home and rest. And he also wants to run Zurich and Brussels.”
Asked who would win the 5000m in his absence Bekele grinned shyly once again before answering.
“Maybe an Ethiopian,” he said. “My brother (Tariku) is entered in the 5000m Maybe my brother will win the 5000m. Everybody is there for a medal - maybe Kenyans, Moroccans. So we don’t know who is going to win the 5000m maybe we will see it together.”
I am tired
As he made his way outside the press conference room Bekele acknowledged his Christian faith had gotten him through the loss of fiancée Alem Techale. Then he turned his attention to what comes next for this incredible young man.
“First I want to go to Ethiopia and celebrate in my country. After maybe I will go to Zurich. I am not sure, I want to run, but I am very tired right now.”
“The World record is very tough for me I didn’t prepare well it was a difficult season but I did ok. It was not easy after I lost my fiancée. In cross country I won double. I won here.”
Paul Gains for the IAAF
