Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco celebrates winning the 1500m final (© Getty Images)
Among the numerous stars who will take part in the MGK-Vis Golden Gala (2 July), the second leg of the TDK Golden League 2004, Hicham El Guerrouj is probably the one most familiar to the Italian capital.
Famously the 29-year-old Moroccan set two outstanding World records on the track of the Olympic Stadium in Rome, the 1500m best mark in 1998 and one year later the fastest ever time in the Mile.
Since then El Guerrouj has won a further three World 1500m titles - in addition to the one he won in Athens 1997 the first World gold of his superb career - and now only lacks an Olympic victory.
Confident of Athens success
Yet despite the constant demands of journalists and fans alike, El Guerrouj seems to finally be a man at peace with himself.
“Everyone, including myself, knows that I have never won an Olympic title yet I feel extremely confident. It is true that I am currently well “down” in the world performance lists but since the birth of my daughter Hiba I have been feeling very “high”.
Standing in 29th place in the 2004 World Outdoor lists for 1500m following his opening and only 1500m of the season, El Guerrouj knows that his time of 3:36.46 which he ran in Zaragoza on 8 June does not do justice to his current physical shape.
My head was elsewhere in Zaragoza
To those who tried to see the beginning of the end of El Guerrouj in that chronometrically disappointing outing the Moroccan champion just replies with a joyful enthusiasm.
“You know, Zaragoza was just three days after the birth of my daughter. I had been sleeping on the hospital floor by my wife’s bed for two days because I didn’t want to miss anything of my baby. I wanted to feel her, to hear her breath, to see her move, I felt like I was on a cloud."
“And when I was in Spain, I wasn’t concentrating at all. I spent all my time on the phone arranging my daughter’s naming, inviting people, making sure everything was perfect for this celebration."
“When the pacemaker went, I didn’t react. I wasn’t in the race, my head was elsewhere. So when I saw all the other runners sprinting at the end I just gave everything I had not to lose the race."
“Had I been my usual self I would have easily clocked 3:31 because I am in great shape both physically and mentally. The birth of Hiba was like winning the most prestigious medal in the most important meeting but now I want to think about tomorrow. I want to think about the future and what it holds for me.”
Battle with Baala
And the immediate future for Hicham El Guerrouj holds a very exciting 1500m tomorrow night. A race which will feature France’s Medhi Baala, the 2003 World outdoor silver medallist, Portugal’s Rui Silva, the 2001 World Indoor champion, and Kenya’s Bernard Lagat, the reigning World Indoor 3000m champion and winner of the first leg of the TDK Golden League meeting in Bergen who is determined “to stick to the Golden bib."
Season really begins in Rome
“My season starts tomorrow,” said El Guerrouj. “I am a much more relaxed person than I used to be and I know that from tomorrow and until Athens you will see a great El Guerrouj. I usually tend to improve my form as the season advances so by the time the Olympics come around I should be at the peak."
“I feel physically and psychologically stronger than last year. Last year I had huge rhythm problems. I couldn’t kick and yet I won the World title. This year my training programme has slightly changed and I feel like my rhythm is a lot better."
“This year I have been preparing specifically for the 1500m, the 1500m and the 1500m!”
Olympic double plans?
A spontaneous doubt arises. Is El Guerrouj reconsidering the 1500-5000m double at the Olympics which he has been aiming at?
“No. The idea of doubling 1500m and 5000m in Athens remains. The Olympic Games represent a magnificent opportunity for us athletes to promote the sport, to show the world what a beautiful and noble sport athletics is. And most certainly Athens will be my last Olympic Games so I definitely don’t want to miss them. I want to go there, be strong and leave my mark in the history of the sport.
“But attempting the double doesn’t necessarily mean I will succeed in the double. I am not a robot, I am a human being. My training has been excellent and everything has been great for me but don’t forget that I am not a machine.”
Path to Athens
Hicham El Guerrouj’s path towards the Olympic consecration will begin tomorrow night in the Olympic stadium in Rome. After confirmed stops in Lausanne, Stockholm, London and Zurich, El Guerrouj will meet again with history to try and wash out the disappointments of Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.
But whatever happens in tomorrow’s Golden Gala and in Athens, El Guerrouj is far from thinking about hanging up his spikes.
“I love this sport. It’s my passion, my pleasure. I love the track, I love being in a stadium, I love the pain in training and I want my pleasure to last for at least another two or three years.
“But beware my pleasure on the track is only in finishing first. I don’t enjoy finishing second, third or fourth,” says El Guerrouj with a grin on his face.
“The day I finish third or fourth, maybe then I’ll think about retiring. But not now. I love it too much!”
IAAF