New video of 2004 Olympic 1500

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Nice. Liquori was clueless.

Cool - I hope there will be a video of the 2025 Fifth Avenue Mile someday

Yeah this is good footage.

Classic old school 1500m championship race - a throwback to the late 80's/early 90's where very few races were well under 2min at 800. You can almost see the hamster wheels spinning in El G's head during that opening 700m or so as it's going so slow and he's waiting to see if anyone will take it and then the realization he needs to be the one to take it on. He also hated running slowly in packs with guys around him (understandable fear after Atlanta), which is why he just takes hit and runs those opening laps in lane 2.

Much is made of the 1.46.8 final 800m but he doesn't really get moving until that final 700m. The first 100m of that final 800 is 14.5 seconds so 1.56 pace. The final 700m is exactly 1.32.26 - 1.45.40 pace. Just remember that for anyone out there who wants to believe that El G was "only" a 1.47.1 capable 800m guy.

But the most impressive part of this will always be what happens in the final 40-50m of this race. Lagat had him buried with 50m to go and it's not necessarily the physical side but more the mental side of it. I can't remember seeing/being part of many races ever where someone get's overtaken (and Lagat was clearly half a stride up at a point) that close to the finish and they come back and win. So easy to just crater and say "it's just not meant to be" but he just wanted that title so badly. Legendary stuff.

Such a legendary race. I just wish there was a video of this quality with Cram’s commentary. His call in the final straight is one of the best ever.

We get to see two of the KINGS of EPO battle to the line in HQ.

Amazing to go back and watch the 5000 in '04. Eluid Kipchoge is a 19 yr old phenom at the time who just wasnt ready for El G or Bekele in the 5000m

Even though he beat them both in the World Championships a year earlier in what is still the fastest time run at a major champs by some margin?