He will be named to the team, but if not there should be some sort IOC/WA override that puts him on the team regardless or bestows upon him a wild card berth. I think every fan of the sport, and there are so few of us, wants to see KB and EK race in Paris. If they are racing for a medal, amazing, but if they are racing for 10th, that would be ok. Both of them MUST race in Paris even if their federations try to mess this up. Maybe a new rule where any former Olympic gold medalist (in any athletics event) with a qualifying time in a given event gets in…..honor the legends who are still reasonably competitive.
He will be named to the team, but if not there should be some sort IOC/WA override that puts him on the team regardless or bestows upon him a wild card berth. I think every fan of the sport, and there are so few of us, wants to see KB and EK race in Paris. If they are racing for a medal, amazing, but if they are racing for 10th, that would be ok. Both of them MUST race in Paris even if their federations try to mess this up. Maybe a new rule where any former Olympic gold medalist (in any athletics event) with a qualifying time in a given event gets in…..honor the legends who are still reasonably competitive.
There would be a long line of people behind Bekele also asking for overrides. The Olympics are about competition and not honoring legends.
Bekele the absolute mf GOAT. The wind looked terrible. The man is in mid 2:03 shape easy. Same in Valencia which had a super hot opening split.
Tola ran like a moran at the front of the pack eating wind for the whole race. Same as Kipchoge in Boston. You win a race and forget everything you know about good strategy lmao.
2:03 without the wind, that's what I think as well. The wind was a problem. And he is almost age 42. One of the greatest performances I have ever seen.
Bekele will be super motivated to win the Marathon Gold🥇
He is probably the most talented runner, maybe not the most disciplined but if selected for Paris I am sure we will see Bekele in super shape in August.
RUFK me of course it is enough. 2:04 x two 4 months apart. The selectors MUST select him Today period. Everyone wants to see the GOAT again running in the Olympic Games.
I can't believe that there is a legitimate possibility that Bekele could actually medal at the Paris Olympics at age 42. The undisputed GOAT distance runner.
It is truly remarkable how he has remained at such a high level, this mercurial legend and multiple time world record holder who came within seconds of holding 5000m, 10000m, and marathon records simultaneously. But then for the selectors there is the seed of doubt, knowing that you never know what you're going to get from him.
Goat, maybe but you don't earn goat status with runner up finishes
He will never be the marathon GOAT. He could have retired a decade ago and he would have a compelling argument for the distance running GOAT. The fact that he’s contending for the win in London 2 decades+ into his pro career just further pads his resume and reinforces the feeling that he’s the most talented in history.
I find it fascinating to see Bekele still competing at this level given how greats who have come long after him have flamed out. Like Mo Farah and Galen Rupp. These were two guys who both beat him at the Olympics 12 years ago but have never sniffed a marathon time this fast, let alone in windy conditions. And Bekele is much older than them. How does he do it?