Natural Talent wrote:
Could of bekele broken the 3000m and 2 mile WR’s? An interview uncovers his true potential at shorter middle distances that he never tapped into. He didn’t complete specific training to aid his Personal bests below 5000m! His training was based around strength and his 10,000m. With the proper training for shorter distances could of bekele run 3.27 for 1500m and ultimately improved his 3000 and 5000 times with his new found speed?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9VBnP09Utso
In fact this video confirms that at the start of 2010 he wanted to go after the 3000 WR. This is what screwed up his calf (which lead to a series of other injuries) for years. So this is not "untapped potential." He tried to push himself in that range, and his body said "No!" This lead to years of injury that probably cost him many great performances.
Hindsight is 20/20, but if he had started in 2010 to transfer his ambitions to the 10,000, 1/2 M, and Marathon range (instead of down to mid-d events) he might have the half and full marathon world records, and a few more 10,000 track medals now. If only....
As amazing as Bekele's career is, from 2010 on, it is more tragedy than triumph, a sad reminder of what could have been.