Meseret Defar celebrates winning the 5000m Olympic gold (© Getty Images)
Just 24, Meseret Defar has already achieved more than most athletes could ever imagine. World titles indoors and out, a slew of World records, and of course, the 2004 Olympic 5000m title. Defar’s next chore will be to become the event’s first two-time Olympic champion.
Indeed, since the 3000m was added to the Olympic programme in 1984 and later replaced by the 5000m in 1996, no woman has won a pair of medals in the events. Defar is certainly as strong a candidate as any to achieve the latter, and despite losing her World record to compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba (14:11.55) in Oslo, remains the favourite to defend her title.
The consummate competitor, Defar made a brave and largely solo attempt to regain the record in Stockholm, but fell just short as she crossed the line in 14:12.88, the second fastest performance in history. Though she initially shed tears of disappointment, the performance was nonetheless a confidence booster after suffering a loss to compatriot Meselech Melkamu at the African Championships and a sub-par – by her extremely lofty standards – in Eugene.
At the moment, it’s not known whether Dibaba, entered as an alternate, will yet contest the event in Beijing. Much will depend on how well she can recharge her batteries four days after the 10,000m final in which she is the heavy favourite. If she does make it to the line, their head-to-head will certainly be billed as one of the biggest of the Games.
Melkamu, a 14:33.83 performer last year, rounds out a solid Ethiopian squad. After out-sprinting Defar at the African Championships in Addis Ababa in early May, the 23-year-old produced solid runner-up performances at both Hengelo and Rome, the latter with a season’s best 14:38.78.
According to script, the Kenyan contingent is expected to mount the most serious attack on the current Ethiopian supremacy. With her 14:22.51 from Oslo last year, Vivian Cheruiyot is the fourth fastest in history, and also brings big meet credentials to Beijing after her silver medal finish in Osaka last year. With a season’s best of just 14:57.43, Cheruiyot hasn’t however yet displayed form similar to her 2007 season. Kenyan trials winner Priscah Jepleting, the bronze medallist in Osaka, hasn’t approached her career best of 14:35.30 (2006) this season, but has competed well, most recently finishing third in Rome and second in Paris. Kenyan No. 3, Sylvia Kibet, won in Berlin and finished third in Paris.
Russians Liliya Shobukhova and Gulnara Samitova-Galkina could also figure prominently in the podium battle. Shobukhova, the 2006 European silver medallist, produced a superb 14:23.75 European record at the Russian Championships last month, to move up to No. 4 all-time. Samitova-Galkina clocked 14:33.13 to finish second behind Shobukhova, but she’ll begin her Beijing visit in the 3000m Steeplechase, the event in which she holds the World record.
Turkey’s Elvan Abeylegesse, a former World record holder, is expected to double (5000/10,000m) and could also be a factor.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
