In the biggest upset of these Olympic Games, Morocco's 1500m world champion and world record holder, Hicham El Guerrouj, lost out in a final sprint with Kenya's Noah Ngeny, who stopped the clock at 3:32.07 to set an Olympic record and win the first gold for Kenya in this event for 12 years.
The Kenyan overtook El Guerrouj in the last few strides of a thrilling race that had started as a virtual repeat of the World Championship final last year. From the gun, as in Seville, it was a Moroccan, Youssef Baba, who dashed to the front, this time shepherding El Guerrouj through 400 metres in 54.14 - thus making sure that his team-mate was running freely, and well clear of flashing elbows and feet. With El Guerrouj tucked in a metre behind, and the two Kenyans Ngeny and Bernard Lagat following in the slipstream, the race resembled a typical Grand Prix race. With Baba dropping back soon after the 800 metre point (reached in1:54.77), El Guerrouj was left isolated in the lead, but rather than draw effortlessly away, as he would probably have done in 1999, he remained just a stride ahead: a tantalising target for the Kenyans chasing him. The bell was reached in 2:37.5 but El Guerrouj's face was contorted with effort - in contrast to Ngeny's relaxed visage - and suddenly the stadium sensed that a real race was now on.
The Kenyan remained a stride behind El Guerrouj right up until the final straight before sprinting hard for the line. At first, it seemed as if the Moroccan might hold on but 15 metres from the line, Ngeny eased past and, with the race lost, El Guerrouj gave up in the last couple of strides, finishing just ahead of Lagat - 3:32.32 to 3:32.44. The last 200 metres had been completed in 26.7.
In Atlanta - El Guerrouj had lost out after falling in a race many believe he could have won. Here in Sydney, his misfortune was to meet a man who was simply better on the day than he was. At 26, El Guerrouj should get another chance, but Ngeny is four years his junior and tonight, he proved that he is already in the class of the legendary 1968 Olympic champion Kip Keino, who was watching from the stands.
