Athletics: Moroccan shows he's greatest

By SIMON TURNBULL

After Hicham El Guerrouj had fallen just before the start of the final lap in the Olympic 1500m final in Atlanta, as he wept uncontrollably in the stadium tunnel, someone handed him a mobile phone.

King Hassan II was on the line. "Do not cry," the monarch said. "You are a champion in the eyes of the Moroccan people."

Yesterday, on the track in the Athenian Olympic Stadium, the Moroccan king of middle distance finally became an Olympic champion in the eyes of the watching world.

Eight years on from the tears of Atlanta, when he picked himself up to finish 12th and last, and four years after the agony of Sydney, when he was overhauled 25m from the line by Kenyan Noah Ngney, El Guerrouj emerged with his treasured crown from one of the epic Olympic races.

Winding up the pace from 800m out, the willowy North African failed to shake off Kenyan Bernard Lagat.

Into the home straight, Lagat gathered for the kill. Moving wide, he was level, then edged in front with 50m left. For El Guerrouj, it was his worst nightmare revisited.

But then he summoned the spirit of a supreme champion. He hauled himself level and, with the line fast approaching, edged in front.

The time of 3m 34.18s was irrelevant. By a margin of 0.12s, El Guerrouj had proved himself, at 29, the greatest middle-distance runner of all time.

He dropped to the ground and kissed the track, then clasped his hands to his face and wept tears of joy. He kissed Lagat and kissed his coach, Abdelkhader Kader.

Then he made for the front row of the stands and plucked his three-month-old daughter, Hiba, from the crowd and smothered her in kisses.

The sound of Zorba's Dance blasted over the public address system. El Guerrouj jigged to the quickening beat.

Lagat was the first to congratulate his good friend, and the two hugged while on their knees.

Barely noticed amid the joyous scenes, Rui Silva, of Portugal, celebrated his bronze medal.

"I did not win because I gave 100 per cent and El Guerrouj gave 101 per cent," Lagat said.

El Guerrouj added: "I am finally complete. Four years ago in Sydney, I cried with sadness. Today I cry tears of joy.

"I'm living a moment of glory.

"This is the greatest day of my life. I feel like a baby.

"When Lagat came past, I did not want to lose. In Sydney I trained too hard and ran out of gas. This time I had something extra. Now I will go for more glory in the 5000m."

He will do that with the blessing and the thanks of Morocco's King. Before the tearful El Guerrouj could leave the track and get to the stadium tunnel, someone handed him a mobile phone. It was Mohammed VI calling.

"Do not cry," Hassan II's son and successor probably told him. "You are the champion of the Olympic Games."

- INDEPENDENT