Hassan's triple anyone remember Said Aouita 88?

[Jnathletics]

Really surprised that Hassan's coaches or advisors are letting her go for the triple. I guess they aren't very up on their History.

Believe, the great Said Aouita tried the 800-1500-5000 triple in 88 and had a major fail. Came away with a bronze in 800 and believe hurt himself in the heats of the 1500. Instead of an epic 1500-5000 double, he over extended himself and isn't remembered for his greatness. Will Hassan regret her triple decision also?

He was the 84 & 87 5000 champ and the WR holder in the mile coming into the Olympics.

[KevinR]

An athlete of her stature can opt out of any one of these, depending on the situations. But having said that, go big or go home, right?

[CookyMonzta]

Really surprised that Hassan's coaches or advisors are letting her go for the triple. I guess they aren't very up on their History.

Believe, the great Said Aouita tried the 800-1500-5000 triple in 88 and had a major fail. Came away with a bronze in 800 and believe hurt himself in the heats of the 1500. Instead of an epic 1500-5000 double, he over extended himself and isn't remembered for his greatness. Will Hassan regret her triple decision also?

He was the 84 & 87 5000 champ and the WR holder in the mile coming into the Olympics.

He broke Steve Cram's WR in the 1,500 (3:29.46) in 1985, after losing to him in WR time (3:29.67-3:29.71). In 1987, he was the first to break 13 minutes (12:58.39).

Which event comes first in the program for Hassan? Do any of the heats and/or finals happen on the same day or a day apart? She may sandbag in one event before this is over. As hot as it is over there, that Chinese triple will hurt.

[dj]

Really surprised that Hassan's coaches or advisors are letting her go for the triple. I guess they aren't very up on their History.

Believe, the great Said Aouita tried the 800-1500-5000 triple in 88 and had a major fail. Came away with a bronze in 800 and believe hurt himself in the heats of the 1500. Instead of an epic 1500-5000 double, he over extended himself and isn't remembered for his greatness. Will Hassan regret her triple decision also?

He was the 84 & 87 5000 champ and the WR holder in the mile coming into the Olympics.

I also remember Kip Keino in 1968 trying a 1500-5000-10,000 triple.
A stomach cramp forced him to drop out of the 10 with with a little less than 3 laps remaining and still in medal contention in the lead group. Two days later, Keino ran the heats of the 5000 and two days after that, he finished 2nd in the final. As for his win in the 1500, that came the day after the 5000, with the 1500 semis the same day as the 5000 final, and the 1500 heats the day before.

Aouita never went to the line for the heats of the 5000, in fact Olympedia does not show him as a non-starter in the 5000, thus he may have withdrawn early in the meet.

[gh]

Keino's "stomach cramp" as I recall was a gall bladder problem

[NotDutra5]

Keino's "stomach cramp" as I recall was a gall bladder problem

IIRC it was him passing a stone of some sort - gall or kidney. That's just to make the 10,000m a bit more palatable I guess.

[Alan Sigmon]

As I recall, Aouita, to the surprise of many, simply abandoned the 5000 in 1988 (his best chance for gold) , for the challenge of trying to become the first in history to have won the Olympic 800, 1500, and 5000 (in a career). I'm not sure, but I think he showed up for the 1500 heats with his thigh wrapped.

He seemed to have a great desire to secure his place in history, and evidently having great range was, in his mind, a way to do it. He had run a good 10,000 (27:26.11, Oslo 1986), as well as an 8:21 steeplechase in late 1987. Rather than go for a 5-10 double, he opted for the 800 and 1500. And remains, if I am correct, the only man to have medaled in the 800 and the 5000. But he never won an Olympic medal in the 1500. Indeed, his only World Championship medal in the 1500 was is bonze from 1983.

[said88]

Really surprised that Hassan's coaches or advisors are letting her go for the triple. I guess they aren't very up on their History.

Believe, the great Said Aouita tried the 800-1500-5000 triple in 88 and had a major fail. Came away with a bronze in 800 and believe hurt himself in the heats of the 1500. Instead of an epic 1500-5000 double, he over extended himself and isn't remembered for his greatness. Will Hassan regret her triple decision also?

He was the 84 & 87 5000 champ and the WR holder in the mile coming into the Olympics.

In several interviews before Seoul, Aouita said he wanted to run the 1500 and maybe also the 800. This also was part of his long time plan which included a 5000/10000 double in Rome 87, 800/1500 double in Seoul and 5000/10000 double in Barcelona 92.
The 800/1500/5000 triple for Seoul 88 was made up by the press.

[NotDutra5]

Aouita ran the 800m with a bandage on his leg so he must have been injured prior to that final. I don't recall whether he was bandaged up for the prelims.

[79]

Aouita ran the 800m with a bandage on his leg so he must have been injured prior to that final. I don't recall whether he was bandaged up for the prelims.

Some say it was his calf, others say it was his hamstrings.
A huge disappointment for the best miler through the 80s'...

[br]

I also remember Kip Keino in 1968 trying a 1500-5000-10,000 triple.

Lasse Virén tripled in '76. 5000 & 10,000 gold, marathon 5th.

[bobguild76]

As great as Aouita's career was, there is still an element of what could have been had he stuck to the 1500/5000/10,000.

[gh]

Lasse Virén tripled in '76. 5000 & 10,000 gold, marathon 5th.

and Zátopek preceded that with triple gold in '52.

[NotDutra5]

Some say it was his calf, others say it was his hamstrings.
A huge disappointment for the best miler through the 80s'...

His bandage was on his thigh.

[Trickstat]

Some say it was his calf, others say it was his hamstrings.
A huge disappointment for the best miler through the 80s'...

Who never won a 1500m gold at world level or set a world mile record. I think Steve Cram's claim is stronger.