Bekele rules out Oly double

[tafnut]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/athletics/3562103.stm

[Cyril]

Re: Bekele rules out Oly double

Interesting. While he says he won't decide based on what others are running I'm sure the Ethiopians will want to put their best feet forward - I doubt you'll see Geb and Bekele both going after the same gold.

Do we know the schedule yet? I had thought it would be a nice gesture if the 5 was first - Bekele wins gold there then helps pull Geb through the late stages in the 10. In essence returning the favor from last year, when Geb did the grunt work helping his mate get the gold. However, it doesn't now look like that will happen, but things can still change.

[gh]

Re: Bekele rules out Oly double

On the other hand, one school of thought says the Ethiopians would be happier w/ a "guaranteed" 1-2-3 sweep in the 10 than they would with risking a 1-2 and a 2 or 3 in the 5.

[Cyril]

Re: Bekele rules out Oly double

Gary,

Maybe, but two golds are much superior to a 1-2-3. Do you know the line up? If one is going to do the 5, which I assume will be first, why not also give the 10 a go? The only serious conflict for a double would be if Bekele wanted to win the 10, he wouldn't want to take a chance of being at all fatigued by going the 5 first.

So, now my thinking may be that he will be going the ten, not taking a chance in the 5. If he would be doing just the 5, he mine as well do both.

That makes things more interesting for El G's potential double!

[gh]

Re: Bekele rules out Oly double

The 10 is the first night (8/20). 5K heats are on 8/25, final is 8/28

If El G does a 15/5 double he has less than 24 hours between 1500 final and 5K heats, the former being at 23:25 (yes, 11:30 at night!) on 8/24 with the 5K heats at 20:30 on the 25th.

[Cyril]

Re: Bekele rules out Oly double

>The 10 is the first night (8/20). 5K heats are on 8/25, final is 8/28

If El
>G does a 15/5 double he has less than 24 hours between 1500 final and 5K heats,
>the former being at 23:25 (yes, 11:30 at night!) on 8/24 with the 5K heats at
>20:30 on the 25th.

Well, now I really don't think Bekele will run the 10, if he does why not also give the five a shot? The schedule is perfect for the double especially if an athlete priority is the 10.

As for El G., what does he have to lose by doubling? The important one will be out of the way, the 5 would just be icing on the cake. This double would be a killer, but if anyone can pull it off its El G.