History will be kind to me because I intend to write it

AFRICAN HEROES: FANIE VAN DER MERWE

Fanie van der Merwe is aiming to defend the two gold medals he won at the Paralympics in September - "the highlight of my life" - four years from now in London. The South African sprinter and cerebral palsy sufferer, who turns 25 in February, was one of the stars of the Beijing Paralympics in September, as his country finished a superb sixth in the medals table, 21 places above the next best African performers, Kenya.

Forget Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps for a moment: the Stellenbosch University sports scientist stormed to victory in the T37 100 and 200 metres, smashing records along the way. His team won 21 gold, three silver and six bronze for a total of 30 - twice as many as they gleaned in Athens in the 2004 Games.

Together with the achievements of amputees Oscar Pistorius, who won the T44 100, 200 and 400 metres, and S9 competitor Natalie du Toit, who garnered five golds in the pool, van der Merwe's double glory has been well received back in his homeland.

In his first Paralympic Games, against the backdrop of a packed Beijing National Stadium, or the 'bird's nest', he won the 100 metres in a Games record of 11.83 seconds. Days later he sparkled in the 200 metres, finishing in 23.84 seconds - four-tenths of a second quicker than Mohammed Allek's world record that had not been broken since 2003.

"I keep one medal under my pillow," said a beaming van der Merne who was also awarded R130,000 (£8,325) from sponsors for winning his two golds. "No, it's next to my bed really. The other one is at my parents' house.

"I'm very humble and grateful for the experience - it was an amazing opportunity and easily the highlight of my life so far. I've never experienced anything quite like it. I had watched the Beijing Olympics and saw Usain Bolt achieve what he did and I wondered what it would be like.

"When I arrived in China it was unbelievable. It's a surreal feeling when you are there in the Olympic Village. Just walking to the stadium on the way and seeing all the people was very overwhelming."

Van der Merne just missed out on representing his country four years earlier in Greece, but having only taken up the sport seriously in 2003 he now concedes that he was too inexperienced. Though it hurt at the time, his patience and hard work has more than paid off.

"I was disappointed not to make it into the final team back then but I didn't expect to do all that well as it was my first year and I was young - only 20," he continues. "But it made me keener to succeed at the Beijing Games.

"For the finals I tried not to worry about the crowd and focus on the race. I prayed a lot - I knew that the Lord would be with me. The night before each race I would think about how I wanted it to go the next day. It was very difficult to fall asleep!"

The third year student added: "The whole team did brilliantly well. We were very together and would encourage each other. Every night we would spend time together - it was a very special feeling. I will never forget how it felt - those moments will stay with me forever. And if everything goes well I would like to run in London in three years.

"The Games were well broadcast in South Africa and people were going crazy because of how successful we were. Not a lot of people knew about the Paralympics before Beijing so for the sport in South Africa it was great - hopefully it will encourage other disabled youngsters to get involved."

Labels: Beijing Olympics, Fanie van der Merwe, Paralympics

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 6:17 pm | Permalink | Comments

AFRICA IN BEIJING - KENYA FOCUS

The Beijing Games were not only special for headline-grabbers such as Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt - who broke the 100m, 200m and 4x100m world records on the way to triple gold - and Michael Phelps - the American swimmer who won a record eight gold medals - but also for the African nations, and in particular Kenya.

In August, the East African country, who first competed at the Olympics in 1956, won the most medals in their history, finishing 15th in the medals table and top of the continent's tree, beating northern rivals Ethiopia, who ended 18th.

The five gold, five silver and four bronze medals was Kenya's most successful medal haul, trumping the achievements of the 1988 Seoul Games, when they won five gold, two silver and two bronze. And it was also special as it was the first time the women got in on the gold rush.

Wilfred Bungei, the men's 800m runner, finally fulfilled his potential and peaked at the right time by storming to gold at this year's Games. The 28-year-old had finished second in the World Championships in Edmonton, Canada, six years ago, but had been out of the medals in major competitions until Beijing. He finished fifth in the Olympic Games four years ago in Athens, and followed it up by coming fourth in the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Finland, and fifth in Oskaka, Japan, last year.

In the women's 800m, Pamela Jelimo announced her arrival on the international scene with some style. In her first major competition, the 18-year-old backed up her win in the African Games in Addis Ababa earlier in the year by starting Kenya's gold rush at the Games, and in the process become the country's first ever female Olympic champion.

Jelimo, nicknamed the "Kapsabet Express", was unstoppable in the two-lap event, and was followed home by compatriot and reigning world champion Janeth Jepkosgei, 24, to hand Kenya a one-two finish. Not even Olympic legend Maria Mutola of Mozambique came close to rubbing shoulders with the Kenyans.

The 1,500m runner Nancy Langat, after not reaching the Olympic finals at Athens in 2004 or the 2005 World Championships, collected Kenya's women their second gold. Married to marathon runner Kenneth Cheruiyot, Langat, 27, had a double celebration as her eldest son turned six on the same day she won her medal.

Other Kenyan women to win Olympic medals include Pauline Konga, who bagged silver in the 5,000m at Atlanta 1996; Isabella Ochichi, who achieved the same at Athens 2004; and Joyce Chepchumba, who clinched marathon bronze at 2000 Sydney.

Brimin Kipruto went one better than he managed in Athens four years ago by winning gold in the 3,000m steeplechase in Beijing. The 23-year-old won the gold medal at the World Championships in Osaka and has now underlined his supremacy in the event.

And Japan-based Samuel Wanjiru, 22, closed the Games in style for Kenya by winning the 42km marathon race in 2:06.32, setting a new Olympic record. Wanjiru, who hails from Nyahururu, followed in the footsteps of Douglas Wakiihuri and Erick Wainaina - silver medallists in 1988 and 2000 respectively - sustaining the tradition of Kenyans training in Japan and making a big impression in Olympic marathons.

Marathon runner Catherine Ndereba, 36, was among the silver medallists for Kenya - the same medal she achieved in Athens four years ago. The 19-year-old Asbel Kiprop looks one for the future after coming second in the 1,500m, while 3,000m steepchaser Eunice Jepkorir, 26, and 23-year-old 5,000m runner Eliud Kipchoge also won silver medals. Richard Mateelong, Edwin Cheruiyot Soi, Alfred Yego and Micah Kogo completed Kenya's medal tally by taking bronzes.

KENYAN MEDALS

FIVE GOLD
Wilfred Bungei (800m M)
Pamela Jelimo (800m W)
Nancy Langat (1,500m W)
Samuel Wanjiru (Marathon M)
Brimin Kipruto (3,000m Steeplechase M)

FIVE SILVER
Janeth Jepkosgei (800m W)
Asbel Kiprop (1,500m M)
Eliud Kipchoge (5,000m M)
Catherine Ndereba (Marathon W)
Eunice Jepkorir (3,000m Steeplechase W)

FOUR BRONZE
Alfred Kirwa (800m M)
Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (5,000m M)
Micah Kogo (10,000 M)
Richard Kipkemboi Mateelong (3,000m Steeplechase M)

AFRICAN RANKINGS
Country Golds Silvers Bronzes Total (overall ranking)
Kenya 5 5 4 14 15
Ethiopia 4 1 2 7 18
Zimbabwe 1 3 0 4 38
Cameroon 1 0 0 1 52
Tunisia 1 0 0 1 52
Nigeria 0 1 3 4 61
Algeria 0 1 1 2 65
Morocco 0 1 1 2 65
Sudan 0 1 0 1 71
S. Africa 0 1 0 1 71
Togo 0 0 1 1 81
Egypt 0 0 1 1 81
Mauritius 0 0 1 1 81

ROUND-UP OF OTHER AFRICAN SUCCESSES

Kenya's rivals Ethiopia dominated the men's and women's 5,000m and 10,000m with Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba respectively. Both athletes doubled up and were firm favourites. Bekele, 26, won gold in the 10,000m in Athens four years ago and has won the last three World Championships, while Dibaba is world champion in the 10,000m and won bronze in Athens when only 19.

Swimmer Kirsty Coventry, 24, won all four of Zimbabwe's medals - one more than she won in Athens. She was victorious in the 200m backstroke and finished runner-up in the 100m backstroke (despite setting a world record of 58.77 seconds in the semi-final), 200m individual medley and 400m individual medley.

Oussama Mellouli became Tunisia's hero as he clinched gold in the 1,500m freestyle in his first Games.

And Françoise Mbango Etone won Cameroon their only medal when she retained her gold medal in the triple jump.

BRIGHT FUTURE FOR KENYA

Despite the troubled times Kenya have experienced domestically, there is much to look forward to in terms of athletics. Kenya's most successful Olympic Games will inspire the country's youngsters and many more gold medals are likely to follow in four years when the Olympic torch reaches London. In 2012, the likes of Jelimo, Jepkosgei, Wanjiru, Kipruto, Kipchoge, Kiprop, Soi, Yego and Kogo will all still be under 29 and the gold rush will surely continue.

Labels: Beijing Olympics, Kenya

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 4:26 pm | Permalink | Comments

BRITANNIA'S BEAUTIES RULE THE WAVES

Britannia will once again rule the waves at the Olympics in four years' time - and have the best-looking female sailors to boot.

That's the view of Beijing gold medallists Iain Percy and Andrew 'Bart' Simpson, who won the Star class.

'Blondes in a boat', Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson, sailed to gold in the Yngling class, while windsurfer Bryony Shaw, who posed naked to promote the Olympics, won bronze.

And Percy and Simpson believe the girls' good looks will help raise awareness of the sport and boost the chances of more GB gold medallists when the Games come to London in 2012.

Simpson said: "I don't know about the guys, but the girls are great - some of the best in the world."

Percy, 32, added: "All of our sailors are outside most of the time and a tan and a bit of fitness goes a long way. Our girls in particular are in incredible physical shape.

"I remember when the sailors went into the Olympic Village on the last day and people like Bryony Shaw, who we call the 'Pocket Rocket' and is an incredible physical specimen, looked amazing next to the other athletes."

Simpson continued: "We were slightly taken aback by that because we know the girls have been putting in a lot of hard work, but if you see that physical fitness and toning on an athlete you think it is amazing."

Simpson and Percy, best friends for 20 years, only realised they had clinched gold with "10 or 20 seconds of the race remaining" and after not drinking for two months before the Games, enjoyed the celebrations.

"The champagne went to our heads a bit," admitted 31-year-old Simpson. "We were gone pretty quickly, I'm afraid. We were men down pretty early on that night.

"I think the achievements of the sailors can be eclipsed in four years. It's great for the whole country what TeamGB have done - it has made people much happier.

"The football team have not helped the nation's cause for a while. The whole of TeamGB were always trying, giving everything they have got to try and win. You can't ask for more than that.

"If we keep pushing in the same way and the funding remains good we can do even better as a whole nation in four years time. It would be hard to do better than the six medals we won this year, but it is possible."

On the prospect of returning for TeamGB when the Olympic torch reaches London, Percy added: "There will be a lot of pressure on us but we will be there in four years' time.

"Amazingly, after all we have been though, I was keen to get back out there straight away. I just really enjoy the process. We are always looking into how we can improve and get better, and hopefully the luck will be with us.

"It's accessible, wet, windy and fun. It is important for people to realise how easy it is to get into the sport, how cheap it is to start.

"Sailing is a difficult sport - it is like doing a formula one race without the pit crew. Things go wrong quite a lot but get out there and have a look."

Labels: Beijing Olympics, gold medal, sailors

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:35 am | Permalink | Comments

OLYMPIC TRIATHLON HOPEFULS

Andrea Whitcombe

Ealing-born Andrea Whitcombe is competing in her second Olympics, but her first as a triathlete. At the Sydney Games in 2000 she was part of the Great Britain team, as she took part in the 5,000m, but failed to win a medal. In 1998, at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, she won a silver medal at the same distance. Whitcombe also competed at the World Cross Country championships five times before trying her hand at triathlon. She won the World Cup at Corner Brook in Canada in 2005, and achieved podium finishes at Cancun, Mexico (2006) and Rhodes, Greece (2007). The 37-year-old* enjoys looking after her tortoise in her spare time.

Anja Dittmer

German triathlete Anja Dittmer took up the sport when she was just 16. The Neubrandenburg-born 32-year-old competed at the Athens Games four years ago, but could only manage an 11th place finish with a time of two hours, seven minutes and 25 seconds. Dittmer, whose brother, Andreas, is a three-time gold medalist in flatwater canoeing, has won a number of World Cup events in the last three years. But at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, last year she finished outside the medal places, in sixth. Dittmer trains 25 hours a week and is a member of the Armed Forces.

Bevan Docherty

New Zealander Bevan Docherty is so successful he even has a street named after him in his hometown. In Taupo there is a Docherty Drive to commemorate his achievements, which include winning the silver medal at the Athens Games, four years ago. The 31-year-old Maori began competing in triathlons in 1995 and has won four out of five World Cup events he has entered in the last five years. He won the World Championships in 2004, in Funchal, Portugal, and came second in Vancouver, Canada, this year. Docherty also has a degree in mechanical engineering and enjoys wake boarding and snow boarding in his spare time.

Brad Kahlefeldt

The Australian, whose parents were both marathon runners, missed out on the Olympic Games four years ago due to sustaining a hip injury just months before Athens opened its doors to the sporting world. But Brad Kahlefeldt, who came third in the 2005 and 2007 World Championships, has bounced back and will be in with a great chance of finishing on the podium in Beijing. He won eight World Cup events in 2006 and was named Australian Athlete of the Year that same year. The 29-year-old lives on the Gold Coast in Queensland and enjoys studying geography.

Daniel Unger

The Ravenburg-born 30-year-old won the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany, last year – his career highlight thus far. Daniel Unger, who can speak four languages, has never before been to the Olympics – he missed out in Athens due to injury – though after winning a World Cup event in Richards Bay in South Africa earlier this year, he is in great form for Beijing. The German, who trains up to 40 hours a week, will be one of the favourites to take the gold medal in August. Unger is a plumber by trade and lives in Bad Saulgau.

Debbie Tanner

New Zealander Debbie Tanner came ninth in the World Championships in Vancover, Canada, earlier this year, but will be hoping to finish higher up at her first Olympics at Beijing this August. The 25-year-old, who lives in Auckland, where she was born, took up triathlon when she was only 13. Her biggest success so far was achieved when she won a World Cup event at Ishigaki, Japan, in 2006. She has a degree in Sports and Recreational Studies from Auckland and trains with fellow countryman Bevan Docherty and her sister, Nikki, competed at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Emma Moffatt

Twenty-three-year-old Emma Moffatt was named Australia’s Athlete of the Year in 2007 after a World Cup win in Edmonton, Canada, and finishing fourth at the World Championships in Hamburg, Germany. Beijing will be the Moree-born star’s first Olympics and the Human Movement student will be in with a good chance of making the podium. She is a former cross country national champion and began competing in triathlons aged 13. Her family are all involved in triathlon and away from competing she enjoys spending time on the beach with her friends.

Emma Snowsill

Gold Coast-born Emma Snowsill made her international triathlon aged 17 and now she trains for seven days a week. The 27-year-old, who won the World Championships in 2003, 2005 and 2006, swims 30km, runs 100km and cycles 250km a day now. Tragedy hit Snowsill, who will be competing in her first Olympics in Beijing, in 2002, when her then-boyfriend, Luke Harrop, was hit by a car while out with her on a training run. She is in excellent form this year, having won World Cup events at Ishigaki, Japan, and Mooloolaba, Australia.

Frédéric Belaubre

France’s Frédéric Belaubre finished in fifth place at the Olympic Games in Athens four years ago, and is in with a good shout of making the podium this year in Beijing. The Poissy-born 28-year-old, who enjoys sculpting and sewing in his spare time, came third in the World Championships in Lausanne in Switzerland in 2006. He also won the European Championships in the same year and has won World Cup events in Beijing, Salford, England, and Madrid, Spain, in the last four years. His father helped to introduce triathlon to France in the 1970s and Frédéric’s ambition is to win a medal at the Beijing Games.

Greg Bennett

Sydney-born Greg Bennett will be looking to better his fourth place achieved at the last Olympic Games in Athens in 2004. The 36-year-old will be competing in his second Games in Beijing, but could only finish in 24th place in the recent World Championships in Vancover, Canada, earlier in the year. Bennett, who also likes to surf, play rugby and soccer, ran his first triathlon when he was only 14. He is married to American triathlete Laura Reback and has one ritual before competition: no sex 72 from hours before racing.

* Ages correct on August 8 – the start of the Olympics

Labels: Beijing Olympics, Triathlon

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 11:55 am | Permalink | Comments

GB TRIATHLETE CLARKE QUALIFIES FOR BEIJING

Will Clarke is one of the latest young Brits to have qualified for August's Olympic Games in Beijing - and the star triathlete can't wait to go for gold.

Cambridgeshire-born Clarke - the British No2 behind Tim Don, who will be competing in his third Games - is the current Under-23 World and European Champion, and has a habit of somersaulting to victory.

"The somersaulting is something that the crowds enjoy," grins the 23-year-old who flew to Austen, Texas, last week to begin climate training for China. Next week he competes in the Des Moines World Cup in Iowa, where the winner will take home $250,000.

Clarke ensured his qualification for Beijing last month after coming sixth in a weather-affected race in Madrid in which less than half the field completed.

"The heavens opened when we were running after the swimming and cycling and people began to drop out," Clarke continues. "Only 30 out of 65 starters finished and the temperature had dropped to only seven degrees.

"But I managed to finish and my family were all really relieved and it's a great feeling to know that I will be an Olympian. It's lucky I qualified as my parents booked their flights before it was confirmed I was going.

"The Olympics is the biggest prize you can get in sport. It will be a fantastic experience and I'm really looking forward to it. I'm hoping to get some words of advice from Tim.

"But of the 55 guys who race, 52 go away disappointed that they haven't won a medal. So I will go there and give it my best shot and try to get as close to a medal as possible.

"Whatever happens, I will go out there and enjoy it. The experience will be great so I can learn what you need to do - then I can get a medal in London 2012, hopefully."

Clarke, Don (30) and Alistair Brownlee (20) make up the British triathlete trio heading to Beijing. But first they will be put through their paces in the heat of Texas.

Clarke says: "There is a lot of banter between all of us British lads. But there are times when we have to give each other our own space.

"Out in Austen it will be 38 degrees every day - we will be out there training in that heat and then we go to Des Moines. It'll be perfect practice for Beijing.

"A lot of my main competitors will be also be at Iowa. It's a big money race too - $250,000 for the winner.

"The Kiwis won gold and silver in the last Olympics and they're still strong this year and the Aussies are always strong. It's going to be really tough Games; there are probably about 15 guys that can win it."

And Clarke, whose girlfriend Claire will be out in Beijing staying with the blond star, has an interesting take on ensuring his energy levels remain high.

He added: "Never have sex for three days before a race - that is my rule. It makes a big difference if you do. You will wash it all down the pan if you have some fun the night before."

Labels: Beijing Olympics, Real Madrid, Triathlon, Will Clarke

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 8:50 am | Permalink | Comments

OLYMPIC HOPEFULS

Over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries will be competing at the Beijing Olympics, which begins on August 8, and Velocity has cherry-picked five youngsters who may be among the medals not just this year, but also in four years' time at the London Games in 2012.

There will be 302 events (165 men's, 127 women's, and 10 mixed - nine more than in Athens 2004) in 28 sports and athletes will be striving to achieve the Olympic motto of "Citius, Altius and Fortius" (Latin for "Swifter, Higher and Stronger"). In all, 31 venues will be used, including the 80,000 capacity national stadium known as the "Bird's Nest", and more than 4 billion people are expected to tune into the Games on television, with over 20,000 journalists covering the event on the ground.

Four years ago in Greece, America topped the medals 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. Former International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch says the Games in China's capital will be "the best in Olympic history". Below are five names to look out for:

Elise Matthysen
The swimmer, who will be 16 years old in August*, will be competing for Belgium in the 100m breaststroke, and is the first Belgian woman to qualify for the Games in eight years.

Matthysen has been compared to Belgian legend Brigitte Becue, who was also 15 when she qualified for the Seoul Olympics in 1988. She broke Becue's Belgian 100m breaststroke record at the European Championships in Eindhoven this year.

In the heats she clocked a time of 1:09.10 - 0.06 seconds faster than Becue's time in 1998. Matthysen then went onto finish fourth in the final with a time of 1:08.95 - a result that has left her craving a medal in Beijing.

"I was nervous before the final, but the nerves disappeared during my warm-up," she says. "My first reaction after seeing that I finished fourth was one of disappointment. I was so close to winning a medal. But the time I swam made me feel better."

Matthysen's coach is Dutchman Ronald Gaastra, who helped Frederik Deburghgraeve win a gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Deburghgraeve also competed in the 100m breaststroke, setting a world record in the final. Gaastra's long-term goal with Matthysen is winning an Olympic medal in London 2012.

Jeroen Hertzberger
The Netherlands will be among the favourites to win the gold medal in Beijing in the men's and women's hockey, and 22-year-old Herzberger is likely to be firing in the goals for his country. The striker plays his club hockey - along with his two elder brothers - at home-town club Rotterdam, where he also studies at the Randstad Topsport Academy.

Herzberger starred for his country in the Champions Trophy at the end of last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, scoring the winner against Korea to seal third place for Holland. The Dutch won the gold medal in 1996 and 2000, but lost out to Australia in the 2004 final. Having come through the national youth ranks, Hertzberger cannot wait to take part in his first Olympics and try to win the gold back for his country.

"The Olympics is the biggest sporting event in the world," he grins. "I'm really excited and expect the Games to be amazing. I've been talking to some of the other guys who have been telling me what to expect.

"The Netherlands are a good candidate for the gold medal in Beijing. Australia and Germany will also be strong - it'll be close. The difference in standard between us three is so small."

Will Clarke
The triathlon became an Olympic sport in 2000, and Great Britain's 23-year-old Clarke is in with chance of a podium finish in Beijing, although he is focusing more on winning the gold medal when the Games come to London in 2012. Going into the Beijing Games, the UK are yet to win a medal, of any colour, in either the men's or women's events.

However, that drought could soon be over. Clarke was Britain's top male triathlete last year, finishing fifth at the World Championships in Hamburg and seventh at the Olympic Games test event in Beijing. The 2006 European and World Under-23 Champion is in good form ahead of the Olympics.

Cambridge-born Clarke has a tendency to celebrate his victories with a somersault. "The somersault thing is something I do a lot," he smiles, "because the crowd love it.

"It'll be nice to have Beijing as a practice run, but I am more than likely to do better in London 2012. I'll be a bit older, wiser and stronger."

In 2012, Clarke will be 27, and hopes to be at the peak of his powers. If he continues to improve, there is no reason why he cannot win the gold medal for Britain in 2012 - and you can bet a somersault would follow.

Stephanie Twell
At 15, Twell was the youngest member of the Great Britain team at the 2005 World Cross Country Championships, and ever since has been touted as the heir apparent to World Champion middle-distance runner Paula Radcliffe.

In just over a year, in 2006/07, Twell, who will turn 19 on August 17, won two European Junior Cross Country titles, took the 1,500m silver medal at the summer's European Junior Championships, headed European Junior rankings for the year at 1,500m, 3,000m and 5,000m, topped the World Junior rankings at 1,500m - and achieved the qualification mark for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Colchester-born Twell, who carries a London 2012 badge with her everywhere she goes, has targeted the Games in four years. "I live it, breathe it, dream it," says the strength and conditioning science student at St Mary's University College in Twickenham of the London Olympics.

Brendan Foster, Britain's 1976 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist and one of the most respected pundits in the UK, said: "She seems to have that X-factor."

Andy Schleck
Luxembourg cyclist Schleck rides for Danish team CSC alongside older brother Fränk, who won the Alpe D'Huez stage of the Tour de France in 2006. Twenty-three-year-old Andy has been earmarked as a gold medal prospect in the Beijing road race, along with Fränk and Kim Kirchen.

Team CSC sport director Kim Andersen believes that the younger Schleck has more potential than his brother. "He has an enormous capacity," Anderson says. "You can tell he has a good head and he's a hard worker, just like his brother."

Schleck believes that winning the Olympics would be even more satisfying than wearing the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. "The Olympics road race is perhaps a bigger dream than the Tour," he enthuses.

"We will have three riders: Kirchen, Fränk and me. It is maybe arrogant to say, but we have three riders that can go for a medal.

"I am from Luxembourg, which is a small country, and it may sound silly but I am really proud of it - I love my country. It is my home, it is where I am from, and I am proud of that and I want to do well at the Olympics. Once you have an Olympic medal no one can take that away from you."

*All ages are correct to August 8.

Labels: Andy Schleck, Beijing Olympics, Elise Matthysen, Jeroen Hertzberger, London 2012, Stephanie Twell, Will Clarke

Posted by Oliver Pickup at 12:15 pm | Permalink | Comments

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

Labels: Africa, Beijing Olympics, Kenya

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