Game On: Kenenisa Is Going Try To Defend His Title

I'm a sprint guy and even I can't wait to see KB run.

It's like Ben Johnson before Seoul, having had an injury, running one race badly, disappearing into training for the longest time and not competing...and then showing up on the big stage. Nobody knew what would happen. The suspense built a bit more then than it has here with KB due to the running of heats and semi's, but there is still lots of time for suspense to build here during the course of the actual race.

I might have to borrow someone's TV for the WC's--OMG, how invasive THAT will be. It will be like having some fat a-hole in the corner yelling at me, except when there are actually races being run.

I never used to like KB just based on the way he looks--he looks like a weaseley, untrustworthy little POS. I know that's totally superficial, but what the heck, nobody's perfect. But I just watched his 10k WR on youtube, and holy crap he is a machine. I'm on board, let's ride!

i see bekele taking home the 10k, tadese/farah for 2nd and 3rd in a sprint finish, followed by merga and probably sihine. is leonard komon racing?? i might throw him up there somewhere too, no higher than 5th tho i dont think. but in the 5k ftw bernard lagat will crush. he said he was almost there a little while ago after losing to farah, and i believe him. i think he has a few more awesome runs in him to cap an amazing career. challengers will be farah, isaiah koech, obviously bekele if he runs and a few others.

What I am looking forward to is something reminiscent of WC '09 where Tadese pushed the pace hard. Farah would even be capable of something like that this year, and it seems like the best way to attack an under-raced Bekele.

I respect KB, however, Fara is in his best that taking him down will requir morethan a good name but a good health. Even when he was (KB)at his best, he did not get his way easily. I see it hard for him to win this meet more especially that he has not competed in two years. I am putting my "money" on Fara

Ladies and gentlemen, KB's problem is called family matters. Let people, including his agent, say whatever they want to say but Kenenisa's days are in the past. He will not be in Daegu and will not likely be in London. Kenenisa got married about three/four years ago to an Ethiopian beauty equivalent of Miss USA. With that kind of wife, KB or anyone for that matter has to change their lifestyle. Training takes so much time from family and I think over time Ms Bekele has gotten tired and told him to give up the sport or she would leave him. Otherwise what sort of injury would keep someone like KB down for almost two years? I want him to be there but it looks he is done.

Daniel Komen wrote:

Ladies and gentlemen, KB's problem is called family matters. Training takes so much time from family and I think over time Ms Bekele has gotten tired and told him to give up the sport or she would leave him. Otherwise what sort of injury would keep someone like KB down for almost two years? I want him to be there but it looks he is done.

This might be the most ridiculous post we've seen out of you yet. You are truly outdoing yourself, meaning you're at the top of your game...

I think the person who has no more motivation is Dibaba.

What the hell r u going on about? She is currently recovering from stress fracture on her shin; get ur bloody facts right before u shoot off ur dirty gob.

If any athlete on the planet can take two years off (for whatever reason). Disappear from the sport. Never take part in tune-up races, and then show up and win the WC Gold in his first event in 2 years, then I personally will never believe another thing I see in athletics.

I long ago stopped believing in legends who could not be beaten.

it's a bit like Ali coming back v Frazier - the undefeated champion reclaiming his crown (although MF hasn't won anything yet). I think it will go the same way. KB loses valiantly then next year a better prepared/race sharp KB wins double Olympic gold.

kiowavt wrote:

My view? He would not come to such an event if he thought his fitness was only enough for 5th or 8th or competing in the final.

If you are fit enough to be top 8 in the World then you should show up.

That would be a terrible excuse for not running, "I didn't think I could win."

Unless he is retiring, if he is reasonably fit, he should race.

If he is not in great shape, he will not win.

This uncertainly is one of those most interesting subplots of this year's Championships.

IF KB RECOVER WELL, HE WILL BE THE ONLY GUY WHO SALVAGE ETHIOPIA TO GET THE ONLY GOLD. WATCH MY WORD

toro wrote:

[quote]kiowavt wrote:

]

If you are fit enough to be top 8 in the World then you should show up.

That would be a terrible excuse for not running, "I didn't think I could win."

Unless he is retiring, if he is reasonably fit, he should race.

If he is not in great shape, he will not win.

This uncertainly is one of those most interesting subplots of this year's Championships.

Seriously? Champions dont show up to participate, they show up to WIN. furthermore, there's a huge difference in ability between 1st and 8th usually.

Interesting sidelight: No one, male or female, has ever won an individual running event in three straight Olympics. (Evelyn Ashford was on three straight gold-medal USA 4x1 teams in 1976-80-84.) Bekele has a shot at being the first ever in London.

Lewis should have done it in '84, '88, and '92.

He won in '84 and '88, won the WC's and set a WR in '91, finished 4th in the '93 WC's (beaten by only dopers Christie and Mitchell, and by Andre Cason).

In '92, dopers Christie and Mitchell got gold and bronze respectively, while Cason did not figure in the medals. Fredericks got silver in a time of 10.02, the same time that Lewis ran a year later in Stuttgart.

I don't know why Lewis flamed out in the 100m in 1992, but if the dopers Christie and Mitchell hadn't been around, I believe Lewis would have made the team (taken a spot left vacant by Mitchell's exclusion), and could have competed with Fredericks for gold. Lewis seemed to be a good big-meet performer.

I think we went through this on another thread...

anyway, but for the dopers, I think he had a shot.

UCI XC wrote:

Interesting sidelight: No one, male or female, has ever won an individual running event in three straight Olympics. (Evelyn Ashford was on three straight gold-medal USA 4x1 teams in 1976-80-84.) Bekele has a shot at being the first ever in London.

This information is not correct.

I am pretty sure it is correct. Many athletes have won a running event twice and a few folks have won three times in the field but no one has won a particular running event three times at the Olympics.

Robert Korzeniowski won 3 straight in the 50km walk.

Angelo Taylor will also have an opportunity in London although if he were to pull it off it will not be consecutive.

Sanya Richards will have a 3 peat oppurtunity in the 4x4.

Veronica Campbell will have a chance in the 200.

Bekele or Geb (imagine that) for the 10000

Jeremy Wariner in the 4x4.

At the moment several people have a chance to 3 peat in a field event.

besides Ashford

No one, male or female, has ever won an individual running event in three straight Olympics. (Evelyn Ashford was on three straight gold-medal USA 4x1 teams in 1976-80-84.) Bekele has a shot at being the first ever in London.

old coach man wrote:

I am pretty sure it is correct.

Because the USA did not compete in the 1980 Olympics, that information cannot be correct - as pointed out by Mr. Obvious