Ethiopia's Haile Gebrselassie faces Eritrea's danger man Zersenay Tadese in 10k race
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Beijing - Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie is taking a big gamble in a return to the 10,000 metres at the Beijing Olympics on Sunday. Even his Dutch manager Jos Hermens admitted to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa: "I don't think he will get a medal."
Gebrselassie, 35, ruled the 10,000m in the 1990s with four straight world titles 1993-1999 and two Olympic golds 1996 and 2000.
He switched to the marathon after coming fifth in the 2004 Olympic 10,000m and last year in Berlin ran a world record 2 hours 4 minutes 26 seconds, his 25th world record in the sport of athletics.
Now the friendly man returns to the 10,000m for various reasons: Beijing's heat and humidity and pollution, to ensure that he can run fast a few more years without losing too much energy, to be fit for the Berlin marathon next month, and simply to satisfy Ethiopia.
"The whole of Ethiopia wanted him to run the marathon. But he is 35 and wants to compete again in four years in London (at the Olympics). Haile believes he can ran fast there at age 39," says Hermens.
Hermens did not hide his belief that Gebrselassie should have skipped the Olympics altogether because preparation for the 10,000 differs too much from the build-up to the September 28 Berlin marathon
"He has to do it for the country, the whole country wants it," said Hermens.
Gebrselassie remains the sentimental favourite but countrymen led by Kenenisa Bekele have run away from him and are expected to do so in Beijing as well.
Bekele has lowered Gebrselassie's former world record to 26:17.53 and even if the Olympic race is slower and more tactical Gebrselassie no longer has deadly kick with which he used to shock the opposition.
He had a 26:51.20 two months ago in Hengelo, Netherlands, and believes he could possibly run around 26:35.
However, he will likely only see the heels of his former heir Bekele like in every big race over the distance 2001-2004.
Perennial runner-up Sileshi Sihine is also to run past him in an expected Ethiopian one-two and the presence of Kenyans and Eritrea's danger man Zersenay Tadese who beat Bekele for the world cross-country title in 2007.
Given the tough opposition, Bekele, Sihine and the other Ethiopians can't afford to wait for Bekele during the Beijing race like they did to no avail in Athens.
Gebrleassie played a key role in mediating in a big row between Hermens (who also manages Sihine and other Ethiopians) and the nation's athletics federation over Gebrselassie's appearance in Beijing.
While Hermens said Gebrselassie should not run, the federation insisted and made it clear that they decide whether he runs in Beijing or not.
Hermens named Gebreselassie "the great mediator" and accused the federation of being "clueless." He lamented an amateurish Ethiopian Olympic preparation for several athletes and warned that "even athletes in top form can be wrecked by this."
But Gebrselassie is still dreaming that he can defy the odds in Beijing.
"I still have two big goals, to win another Olympic gold and to run in a marathon below 2:04 hours," he said.
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