PREVIEW OF BEIJING OLYMPICS (AFRICAN FOCUS)
BEIJING 2008
The 39th modern Olympiad in Beijing, from August 8th to 24th, is expected to be "the best in Olympic history" according to former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch - and African athletes will be there aiming to emulate the Olympic motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius (swifter, higher, stronger).
Considering the amount of money and manpower China has poured into staging its first global sports event, it should indeed be a breathtaking spectacle and the numbers alone are staggering.
More than 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries will take part in the 302 events across 28 sports (one more event than in Athens 2004); 31 venues will be used, including the 80,000 capacity national stadium known as the 'Bird's Nest'; and over four billion people are expected to tune in to the Games on global TV, with over 20,000 journalists covering the event on the ground.
One of the biggest events is always the 100 metres and, with American reigning champion Justin Gatlin banned, this year there will be a new gold medallist. The race looks set to pit current world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica against America's Tyson Gay, who convincingly defeated his Caribbean rival at last year's World Championships in Osaka. Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba will be Africa's best chance of a medal in the sprint, and after winning the World Indoor 60 metres title in Valencia in March, he will be confident he can challenge.
Gay, who turns 26 the day after the opening ceremony, is the current IAAF male World Athlete of the Year and also expected to challenge for the 200 metres gold, having completed the sprint double in Osaka. Also in the mix will be fellow Americans Xavier Carter, 23, who has run the third quickest 200 metres in history (19.63 to Gay's 19.62), and reigning champion Shawn Crawford.
In the 4 x 100 metres, America and Jamaica will be strong challengers for reigning gold medallists Great Britain, led by Marlon Devonish. Nigeria are Africa's brightest hope, having gained bronze in 2004.
The 1,500 metres will also be one of the highlights of the Games. In Athens, Moroccan star Hicham El Guerrouj won gold in both the 1,500 and 5,000 metres, underlining his superiority over middle distances. With El Guerrouj having retired in 2006, silver medallist Bernard Lagat should be the man to beat at both distances. Kenyan-born Lagat, who took American citizenship in 2005, won gold at both 1,500 and 5,000 metres in Osaka and will have plenty of younger rivals to ward off.
AFRICAN HOPEFULS
In Greece, America topped the medal table, with 35 golds, 39 silvers and 29 bronzes. China were a distant second (32, 17, 14) but are expected to challenge the USA more closely on home turf. Russia (27, 27, 38), Australia (27, 16, 16) and Japan (16, 9, 12) followed, while the first African nation in the table was Ethiopia who were ranked 28th after collecting two gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Kenya were 11 places below (one, four and two) while Nigeria, with two bronze medals, ended in 69th in the table.
This year there are a number of African athletes who are looking to halt the American and Chinese duopoly. Make a note of the following three runners expected to be among those on the podium in Beijing.
1 Olusoji Fasuba - Nigeria (100 metres)
Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba will be 24 when Beijing opens its doors to the Olympic world and a medal in a tough field which includes Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay would cap an excellent year. Fasuba ran 10.07 seconds at the World Championship in Osaka last year, but he just missed out on a medal. In March, despite succumbing to cramp midway through, he won the 60 metres in a blistering 6.51 seconds, burning off Great Britain's Dwain Chambers.
The sprinter, who lives and trains in Athens, said of that indoor victory: "At about 40 metres I had the lead, but I got some cramps so I knew I had to fight more. I think I kind of missed a step at about half way and got a little cramp, but said, 'No, this medal is yours, you've got to push. And it's not going to leave you anymore'."
After winning the African 100 metres in 2004 and 2006, as well as holding the current African record (9.85 seconds), Fasuba, who won bronze in the 4 x 100 metres in Athens, hopes that his success in Spain will lead to greater achievements.
He added: "Being a world champion has always been my dream. I finally got it this year. I just need to find the rhythm for Beijing, but I believe that it's very close. I've got to change my gear and get ready for the 100m."
2 Meseret Defar - Ethiopia (5,000 metres)
Following a superb 2007, in which she broke four world records, Meseret Defar was named as IAAF Female World Athlete of the Year, pipping Croatian Blanka Vlasic and Swedish heptathlete Carolina Klüft to the title. The 24-year-old broke the 3,000 metres world record in Stuttgart last February, recording a time of 8.23.72 before breaking the two mile record two months later in a time of 9.10.47.
She also won the 5,000 metres at Osaka last year, as well as gold in the 3,000 in Valencia last month.
The Ethiopian is in the form of her life as she prepares to defend the 5,000 metres title she won four years ago. But Defar would like her success on the track to transcend athletics.
In an emotional speech, upon receipt of the IAAF award, she said: "I would like to dedicate this award to women in my country who wake up every morning without anything to eat and work hard each day through very difficult conditions in order to survive. I hope this award proves an inspiration to every child, sister, mother and dreamer."
On the Olympics, she said: "Naturally I want to run very fast in Beijing and will train hard for that - Beijing is the big one this year."
3 Abubaker Kaki Khamis - Sudan (800 metres)
Abubaker Kaki Khamis is still only 19 but is sure to soon become a household name, such has been his rise to fame. Kaki, as he is known, claimed 800 metres gold in Valencia, following victories last year in the All-African Games in Algiers and a remarkable 800m/1500m double at the Pan-Arab Games.
His coach Jama Aden suggested that he should just concentrate on the shorter distance, and since then has made a steady progression, running 1.48.43 in 2005, 1.45.78 in 2006, and 1.43.90 late last year.
"His running is very smooth and he has good speed and endurance at the same time," says Aden. "He is also a nice kid and easy to work with."
Despite his superb form, Aden believes that there is a lot of room for Kaki to improve. "Kaki's training is increasing with his age," he says. "That is why he is getting stronger each year. I am sure he will be a great runner."
OTHERS TO WATCH
Edwin Soi - Kenya (3,000 and 5,000 metres)
Kenyan middle distance runner Edwin Soi, 22, has had an impressive couple of years, winning both the 3,000 and 5,000 metres at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart last year, and could well be in with a chance of medal success in Beijing.
Alfred Yego - Kenya (800 metres)
The 22-year-old middle distance specialist won gold at Osaka in September and has a personal best of 1.43.89 minutes.
Luke Kibet - Kenya (marathon)
Kibet, 25, won the gold in the marathon at Osaka. He escaped death at least twice after two politically-charged attacks in his homeland after the February elections.
Youssef Saad Kamel - Bahrain (800 metres)
Kenyan-born Kamel is following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Billy Konchellah, who won the world 800 metres title twice. The 24-year-old took bronze at Valencia.
Kenenisa Bekele - Ethiopia (5,000 and 10,000 metres)
The 26-year-old won gold in the 10,000 metres in Athens and came second to Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in the 5,000, and holds the world record for both distances.
FACTS AND FIGURES
205 countries are expected to compete at the Games in Beijing.
Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey holds the Olympic record for the 100 metres - 9.84 seconds, set in Atlanta in 1996.
Another Canadian 100 metre runner, Ben Johnson, was stripped of his gold medal in 1988 after testing positive for steroids. American Carl Lewis was promoted to first place.
Jamaican Asafa Powell broke the world 100 metres record when he clocked 9.74 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti in 2007.
Michael Johnson smashed the World and Olympic record in the final of the 200 metres in Atlanta in 1996. The American ran 19.32 seconds.
Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco holds world records at 1,500 metres (3.26.00), the mile (3.43.13) and the outdoor 2,000 metres (4.44.79).
Useful websites:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/ - official Beijing 2008 site
http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/index_uk.asp - official Olympics site
http://www.iaaf.org/index.html - International Association of Athletics Federations
http://www.athleticsafrica.com/ - Official African Athletics site
BEIJING 2008
The 39th modern Olympiad in Beijing, from August 8th to 24th, is expected to be "the best in Olympic history" according to former International Olympic Committee President Juan Antonio Samaranch - and African athletes will be there aiming to emulate the Olympic motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius (swifter, higher, stronger).
Considering the amount of money and manpower China has poured into staging its first global sports event, it should indeed be a breathtaking spectacle and the numbers alone are staggering.
More than 10,000 athletes from over 200 countries will take part in the 302 events across 28 sports (one more event than in Athens 2004); 31 venues will be used, including the 80,000 capacity national stadium known as the 'Bird's Nest'; and over four billion people are expected to tune in to the Games on global TV, with over 20,000 journalists covering the event on the ground.
One of the biggest events is always the 100 metres and, with American reigning champion Justin Gatlin banned, this year there will be a new gold medallist. The race looks set to pit current world record holder Asafa Powell of Jamaica against America's Tyson Gay, who convincingly defeated his Caribbean rival at last year's World Championships in Osaka. Nigeria's Olusoji Fasuba will be Africa's best chance of a medal in the sprint, and after winning the World Indoor 60 metres title in Valencia in March, he will be confident he can challenge.
Gay, who turns 26 the day after the opening ceremony, is the current IAAF male World Athlete of the Year and also expected to challenge for the 200 metres gold, having completed the sprint double in Osaka. Also in the mix will be fellow Americans Xavier Carter, 23, who has run the third quickest 200 metres in history (19.63 to Gay's 19.62), and reigning champion Shawn Crawford.
In the 4 x 100 metres, America and Jamaica will be strong challengers for reigning gold medallists Great Britain, led by Marlon Devonish. Nigeria are Africa's brightest hope, having gained bronze in 2004.
The 1,500 metres will also be one of the highlights of the Games. In Athens, Moroccan star Hicham El Guerrouj won gold in both the 1,500 and 5,000 metres, underlining his superiority over middle distances. With El Guerrouj having retired in 2006, silver medallist Bernard Lagat should be the man to beat at both distances. Kenyan-born Lagat, who took American citizenship in 2005, won gold at both 1,500 and 5,000 metres in Osaka and will have plenty of younger rivals to ward off.
AFRICAN HOPEFULS
In Greece, America topped the medal table, with 35 golds, 39 silvers and 29 bronzes. China were a distant second (32, 17, 14) but are expected to challenge the USA more closely on home turf. Russia (27, 27, 38), Australia (27, 16, 16) and Japan (16, 9, 12) followed, while the first African nation in the table was Ethiopia who were ranked 28th after collecting two gold, three silver and two bronze medals. Kenya were 11 places below (one, four and two) while Nigeria, with two bronze medals, ended in 69th in the table.
This year there are a number of African athletes who are looking to halt the American and Chinese duopoly. Make a note of the following three runners expected to be among those on the podium in Beijing.
1 Olusoji Fasuba - Nigeria (100 metres)
Nigerian sprinter Olusoji Fasuba will be 24 when Beijing opens its doors to the Olympic world and a medal in a tough field which includes Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay would cap an excellent year. Fasuba ran 10.07 seconds at the World Championship in Osaka last year, but he just missed out on a medal. In March, despite succumbing to cramp midway through, he won the 60 metres in a blistering 6.51 seconds, burning off Great Britain's Dwain Chambers.
The sprinter, who lives and trains in Athens, said of that indoor victory: "At about 40 metres I had the lead, but I got some cramps so I knew I had to fight more. I think I kind of missed a step at about half way and got a little cramp, but said, 'No, this medal is yours, you've got to push. And it's not going to leave you anymore'."
After winning the African 100 metres in 2004 and 2006, as well as holding the current African record (9.85 seconds), Fasuba, who won bronze in the 4 x 100 metres in Athens, hopes that his success in Spain will lead to greater achievements.
He added: "Being a world champion has always been my dream. I finally got it this year. I just need to find the rhythm for Beijing, but I believe that it's very close. I've got to change my gear and get ready for the 100m."
2 Meseret Defar - Ethiopia (5,000 metres)
Following a superb 2007, in which she broke four world records, Meseret Defar was named as IAAF Female World Athlete of the Year, pipping Croatian Blanka Vlasic and Swedish heptathlete Carolina Klüft to the title. The 24-year-old broke the 3,000 metres world record in Stuttgart last February, recording a time of 8.23.72 before breaking the two mile record two months later in a time of 9.10.47.
She also won the 5,000 metres at Osaka last year, as well as gold in the 3,000 in Valencia last month.
The Ethiopian is in the form of her life as she prepares to defend the 5,000 metres title she won four years ago. But Defar would like her success on the track to transcend athletics.
In an emotional speech, upon receipt of the IAAF award, she said: "I would like to dedicate this award to women in my country who wake up every morning without anything to eat and work hard each day through very difficult conditions in order to survive. I hope this award proves an inspiration to every child, sister, mother and dreamer."
On the Olympics, she said: "Naturally I want to run very fast in Beijing and will train hard for that - Beijing is the big one this year."
3 Abubaker Kaki Khamis - Sudan (800 metres)
Abubaker Kaki Khamis is still only 19 but is sure to soon become a household name, such has been his rise to fame. Kaki, as he is known, claimed 800 metres gold in Valencia, following victories last year in the All-African Games in Algiers and a remarkable 800m/1500m double at the Pan-Arab Games.
His coach Jama Aden suggested that he should just concentrate on the shorter distance, and since then has made a steady progression, running 1.48.43 in 2005, 1.45.78 in 2006, and 1.43.90 late last year.
"His running is very smooth and he has good speed and endurance at the same time," says Aden. "He is also a nice kid and easy to work with."
Despite his superb form, Aden believes that there is a lot of room for Kaki to improve. "Kaki's training is increasing with his age," he says. "That is why he is getting stronger each year. I am sure he will be a great runner."
OTHERS TO WATCH
Edwin Soi - Kenya (3,000 and 5,000 metres)
Kenyan middle distance runner Edwin Soi, 22, has had an impressive couple of years, winning both the 3,000 and 5,000 metres at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart last year, and could well be in with a chance of medal success in Beijing.
Alfred Yego - Kenya (800 metres)
The 22-year-old middle distance specialist won gold at Osaka in September and has a personal best of 1.43.89 minutes.
Luke Kibet - Kenya (marathon)
Kibet, 25, won the gold in the marathon at Osaka. He escaped death at least twice after two politically-charged attacks in his homeland after the February elections.
Youssef Saad Kamel - Bahrain (800 metres)
Kenyan-born Kamel is following in the footsteps of his legendary father, Billy Konchellah, who won the world 800 metres title twice. The 24-year-old took bronze at Valencia.
Kenenisa Bekele - Ethiopia (5,000 and 10,000 metres)
The 26-year-old won gold in the 10,000 metres in Athens and came second to Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj in the 5,000, and holds the world record for both distances.
FACTS AND FIGURES
205 countries are expected to compete at the Games in Beijing.
Canadian sprinter Donovan Bailey holds the Olympic record for the 100 metres - 9.84 seconds, set in Atlanta in 1996.
Another Canadian 100 metre runner, Ben Johnson, was stripped of his gold medal in 1988 after testing positive for steroids. American Carl Lewis was promoted to first place.
Jamaican Asafa Powell broke the world 100 metres record when he clocked 9.74 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti in 2007.
Michael Johnson smashed the World and Olympic record in the final of the 200 metres in Atlanta in 1996. The American ran 19.32 seconds.
Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco holds world records at 1,500 metres (3.26.00), the mile (3.43.13) and the outdoor 2,000 metres (4.44.79).
Useful websites:
http://en.beijing2008.cn/ - official Beijing 2008 site
http://www.olympic.org/uk/games/beijing/index_uk.asp - official Olympics site
http://www.iaaf.org/index.html - International Association of Athletics Federations
http://www.athleticsafrica.com/ - Official African Athletics site
Labels: Africa, Beijing Olympics, Kenya
While not quite on par with your reference sites, I've made some lenses on Kenenisa Bekele, Haile Gebrselassie, and The Best Olympic Distance Performers Ever that some of your readers may enjoy.
Great article, by the way!
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10:04 am