Gebrselassie could not keep up the pace once the final round began, and finished sixth (27.06.68). But like always, his countrymen waited for him before beginning their victory lap. The pace was too much, said Gebrselassie, who has chosen not to take part in what is now his main event, the marathon. (He is asthmatic, and worried about running a long race in the Beijing.)

“It’s okay, it is not a bad result (for Gebrselassie),” said Bekele. “He is now the best marathon runner. It is not easy for him to run as a 10,000m runner.” (Gebrselassie had won the 10,000m at Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000.) He said the Ethiopians had not come out today with a tactic. For most of the race they stayed tucked behind the front-runner. The pace of today’s race too did not allow Bekele a repeat of his gesture at Athens, when Bekele slowed down to keep Gebrselassie with him, later saying, “We wanted him with us.”

With this result the east Africans consolidated their dominance. In fact, together African men have now won 24 of 33 medals in the 10,000m since 1968. The circle of dominance is actually quite small. Bekele and Dibaba, for example, come from in around a village called Bekoji in Ethiopia along the Great Rift Valley. Gebrselassie’s place of birth is said to be just 50 km away.

The 10,000m race is one of acute rivalry between the Ethiopians and the Kenyans. It is listed as an individual event, but the 10,000m demands immense planning between team members, with pace-makers open-heartedly conceding their lead to the deserving competitor.

... contd.