Hicham El Guerrouj and Mehdi Baala promote the IAAF Golden League at the Stade the France (© PJ Vazel)
Four years after the memorable 1500m World Championship final in the Stade de France, Hicham El Guerrouj and Mehdi Baala went back to the French capital on the same stadium to present the 2007 edition of the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis, second leg of the IAAF Golden League 2007, which will be held on 6 July 2007.
France’s Mehdi Baala has vivid memories of his dual with Hicham El Guerrouj in Paris 2003, where the Moroccan Legend would eventually win his 4th consecutive World title.
“Hicham ran a very wise race and used the perfect tactic to win, choosing to sprint with some two laps to go, while I wanted to attack in the later stages. He really destroyed the field and I finished second. Above all, I remember the incredible atmosphere in the stands, people shouting my name as well as Hicham’s before the race.”
The Stade de France, a mythical place for French sport which hosted the Football World Cup final in 1998 and the Saint-Denis Athletic meeting from 1999, a Golden League event since 2000, broke the one-day meeting record attendance with a figure of 70,253 spectators in 2005.
About 26,000,000 spectators around the world watched the 2004 edition on TV. This year, meeting director Gérard Rousselle expects 35,000 tickets to be sold to the public, for an event covered by no less than 500 journalists.
17 events for a one-night Athletics show
The 2007 edition of the Gaz de France meeting will feature 17 events, including 10 IAAF Golden League Jackpot disciplines for which many stars have already confirmed their participation: Men : 100m, 1500m, 110m Hurdles (Allen Johnson, Liu Xiang), Triple Jump (Christian Olsson), Javelin Throw; Women : 100m, 400m (Sanya Richards and Tonique Williams, 100m Hurdles, High Jump (Kajsa Bergqvist) and Pole Vault (Yelena Isinbayeva).
The 1500m is announced to be the highlight of the meeting, with the presence of Mehdi Baala, double European Champion (2002 and 2006) and American Bernard Lagat, who was runner-up to El Guerrouj at the 2004 Olympic Games and second best all-time performer with 3:26.34.
1500m is no longer the same without Hicham
Since the World record holder’s (3:26.00) retirement, Baala finds the circuit is no longer the same.
“The tactic has changed, because Hicham dominated the event and imposed his own style,” says the Frenchman. “Today, the races have unsteady pace, sometimes the guys open the first lap way too fast. I used to practice with Hicham’s tactic in mind, so since 2005 it has been difficult for me to adapt to the new race conditions, and I had to change my plans and include more rhythm changes in training.”
El Guerrouj’s retirement from competition after his 1500-5000m Olympic double in Athens left the 1500m with no real leader.
“Also, there is less respect among the runners, there is more shoulder battles, people are more aggressive in the pack, such things didn’t existed when Hicham was the boss of the field,” reckons Baala.
Now 32, the “boss” doesn’t seem to miss competition so much, even if “one has to prepare psychologically before retiring, and then manage to occupy the free time, not forcing himself to do things without pleasure,” explains the Moroccan. “I’ve spent 20 years in sports, dedicating myself with humility, ethic and pride to hard work. Now, I rest, enjoy my family and I am an ambassador of my sport.”
A marathon for El Guerrouj but just for fun!
El Guerrouj still admits he trains 4 to 5 times a week, but doesn’t go farther than 1 hour jogging or 15km running. He plans to increase the load after this summer with the aim to run a Marathon in 2008. “Just for fun!” he tempers.
“I think I could have run faster than (his World Record) 3:26.00,” he says. “In 2002, I was in such an incredible form in Rieti that I told my manager: I’m going to run 3:24.87! Indeed, during the race, I was on 3:24 pace, until the last straight when I suddenly lost my sensations, I lost my focus. One should stay concentrated during every hundredth of a second during the race.”
Mehdi Baala, 28, finds that the most admirable thing in El Guerrouj’s career is his longevity, having won 84 out of 89 races at 1500m or 1 Mile between 1996 and 2004, including three wins at the Gaz de France meeting (2000, 2001, 2002).
“I don’t have Hicham’s potential because I can’t race as much during a calendar year, I need to point out to one seasonal goal and train for it, I always give all of me in training, I’m not one to finish training with a smile, I’m a hard worker,” says Baala.
After minor injuries which prevented him to run indoors, he will open the outdoor season in Villeneuve d’Ascq on 8 June (2000m), followed by the European Cup on 23 June (1500m), an undefined race in his hometown Strasbourg on 27 June and the keenly awaited Paris Golden League on 6 July on the road to Osaka - IAAF World Championships.
El Guerrouj has his own idea on his former rival and possible successor: “I’m sure Mehdi trains well enough; the problem I see is that he doesn’t fulfil his extraordinary abilities and energy. The day of the competition, I don’t know what happens, but I feel he does tactical mistakes during the race, he should take the decisions during the races, in order to master his strength.”
The Frenchman listens: “I’ve been lucky throughout my career to receive advices from such a champion, I will never forget the training camp we did in Ifrane in 2002.”
One year later, Baala became the 7th fastest runner ever with 3:28.98 and took the second place at the World Championships.
“It’s a chance to have this Gaz de France meeting help us bring back these great memories,” concludes the Frenchman.
Pierre-Jean Vazel for the IAAF
