Golden League Jackpot winner Felix Sanchez (© Getty Images)
Dear friends,
The World Athletics Gala was a great experience for me. Let’s be honest, wherever I go on the circuit I am considered a star, I am treated as if I was a VIP. But in Monaco, to be among all these exceptional athletes, I was just in awe. I saw great champions such as Donovan Bailey, Tommie Smith and I was just ‘WOW’! I even took pictures with a few of them but I must say that my best moment was when I took a picture with Hicham El Guerrouj. For me he is the real king of our sport.
When I first arrived in Monaco for the Gala I thought to myself ‘I hope I will win it’ but then I put things into perspective. I am the best in my event, I have been for the last two years, I was undefeated in 2002 and this was only my second year as a professional. You know being the best in your event is a great feeling but being among the top three in the whole world, all disciplines reunited, that is something! (NB: Felix Sanchez was a finallist at the 2002 Athlete of the Year together with Hicham El Guerrouj and Tim Montgomery.)
I was very pleased when they announced Hicham was the Athete of the Year. He has such an easy life though! With all the due respect, there is no one that matches his talent. I mean the only athlete that can stay close to him is Bernard Lagat and this is just for two laps. So yes, his task seems so easy!
The race I am personally looking forward to watching in Paris will be the men’s 1500m. Hicham is such a great champion I think he will save the World Record for the Championships. And then it will be interesting to see him race the 5000m. I am curious to see whether the other guys are just going to sit in and wait, or whether they are going to try and attack. I wonder what Hicham’s tactic will then be if other runners take up the challenge to set a fast pace.
Felix