ZURICH, SWITZERLAND — Kenenisa Bekele was philosophical about the lack of publicity given to his own brilliant Olympic double compared to the exploits of Usain Bolt.
Bekele 5,000 metres and 10,000 metres victories in the Bird Nest’s stadium in Beijing, both in Olympic record times, saw him become the first athlete to achieve the feat since fellow Ethiopian Miruts Yifter 28 years ago in Moscow.
But Bekele, despite his delight at winning the 5,000m title for the first time and retaining his 10,000m crown, insisted today Bolt fully deserved all of the accolades that made him the Games’ track and field golden boy.
Talking about Bolt’s 100m and 200m successes, both in world record times, Bekele said: “Ours were different races and we can’t be compared.
“(But) he’s very strong and he really ran special races in Beijing. To break two world records that is very special. (They) were very tough to make, but he did it.”
Bolt, not surprisingly, is grabbing the headlines again before tomorrow night’s AF Golden League meeting in Zurich, where over 100m he will meet six of the opponents he thrashed in Beijing when roaring to the world’s quickest time ever of 9.69seconds.
Whether the 22-year-old Jamaican can, for the third occasion this year, lower the record even further cannot be ruled out despite his strenuous Olympic schedule, where he was also in Jamaica’s world record-breaking 4x100m relay team.
“It was a long trip to get here, but I’m not tired at all,” said Bolt. “I’ve done a little training since I got here.
“I’m trying to get the blood pumping again in preparation for Friday evening.”
Bekele revealed chasing his four-year-old 5,000m world record does not figure in his plans because of tiredness.
After arriving back home early yesterday morning, he and other Ethiopian medallists celebrated with their fans – more than a million turned out for the trip from Addis Ababa airport to the capital’s city centre.
“It’s very different,” said Bekele, who then rushed off to Zurich. “I don’t think about world records. After Beijing I’m too tired for a fast race. Maybe I will just go for winning.”
However, teenager Pamela Jelimo, the 800m gold medallist, plans to have a shot at Jarmila Kratochvilova’s 25-year-old world record of 1min 53.28sec.
“I’m going to try for the world record here, I’m not feeling tired after the Olympics,” said the 18-year-old Kenyan, who in Beijing set a third world junior record of 1:54.87sec.
Jelimo, who along with Croatian high jumper Blanka Vlasic is the only contender to win the IAAF Golden League US dollars 1million jackpot, will be paced in the early stages of the attempt by the experienced Russian Svetlana Klyuka, who finished fourth in China.
Vlasic, who lost her unbeaten streak of 34 victories and the Olympic gold medal to Tia Hellebaut, will renew her rivalry with the surprise Belgian winner.
Cuba’s Olympic 110m hurdles champion, Dayron Robles, also insisting he is in top shape, could make an attack on the world record of 12.87sec he achieved in mid-June.
By David Martin, PA Sport