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Endurance pays dividends Ethiopian tries to continue winning streak in 10,000
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Haile Gebrselassie wants to please his Ethiopian compatriots on the track and in politics. Politics will have to wait. The king of the endurance runners has not lost a 10,000-meter race since 1993 and is favored to win his second consecutive Olympic title. The world record-holder at both 5,000 and 10,000 meters had intended to run both races at the 1996 Atlanta Games, but foot blisters ruined his plans. This time, he is sticking to one race. The competition again will be tough, with Paul Tergat of Kenya and Salah Hissou of Morocco, the 2-3 finishers four years ago, expected to be among his challengers. Gebrselassie is undeterred. "The Olympics is something very special for all athletes, not only for Haile Gebrselassie," he said. "It's very important to win, especially for my people. "After Atlanta, there were many people at the airport, many people in the streets," to greet him on his return home to Addis Ababa, Gebrselassie said. His most important greeter was his girlfriend, Alem, who met him at the airport. Gebrselassie gave her his gold medal - and an engagement ring. "The ring was not a surprise," Gebrselassie said. "I told her when I won at the Olympic Games I would do it at the airport." A month later, they were married. Gebrselassie has no surprises planned for his return this time, but his long-range intention to become a politician might be a little unexpected. The 27-year-old Gebrselassie hopes to compete in two more Olympics, taking him through 2008, then enter the political arena.
When Gebrselassie talks, Ethiopians listen. He is a national hero in his country, very highly respected. So respected that his nickname is "Neftenga," which means "The Boss." Adidas has made a racing shoe called Neftenga in his honor. So respected that a movie titled "Endurance" was made about his life in 1998. So respected that he was chosen the greatest distance runner in history by Runner's World magazine, and the athlete of the year in 1998 by the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the world governing body of track and field. He's respected in part because of his deeds - he helps maintain camps for young distance runners in Ethiopia - and of course, because of his accomplishments. He has set world records 14 times. In 1995, he became the first man to hold both the 5,000 and 10,000 records since Henry Rono in 1978. He was the first man to run under 13 minutes for 5,000 meters and under 27 minutes for 10,000 meters. Gebrselassie's childhood hero was Ethiopian Miruts Yifter, the 1980 Olympic 5,000 and 10,000 champion. Now he is trying to make his own Olympic history, by joining Lasse Viren and Paavo Nurmi, both of Finland, as two-time gold medalists in the 10,000. He figures the Mondo track at Sydney's Olympic Stadium will be easier on his feet than the hard track at Atlanta. Gebrselassie's foot problems began before the 1996 Games and were exacerbated during the 10,000 semifinals and final. They started when he went to practice on a hot day and didn't wear socks. "My feet became wounded," he said. "I had a foot infection. "Then, the track in Atlanta was for sprinters, not for long-distance runners, and the pain became bigger. This time, the track is not like Atlanta. I saw this track and it looks good." Gebrselassie figures there will be less pressure on him to win than there was four years ago. "That's because I've won already," he said. Still, the Ethiopian people expect him to win, he wants to keep his undefeated streak intact, and he wants to match the Olympic exploits of Viren and Nurmi, two of the greatest distance runners in history. After the games, Gebrselassie plans to extend his racing horizon, competing in half-marathons and marathons. He has run only one marathon. When he was only 15, he ran a marathon at 2 hours, 48 minutes - in altitude. "Athletes from my country...have proved they can be the best in the world," Gebrselassie said. "Even in the marathon."
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