Now that we know Bekele is doubling in Athens, the question is, can this young 22 year old do it?
I say he can easily pull off the win in the 10000. The 5000 is another story. Kipchoge will challenge him, and if anyone brings him down, it will be him.
Um.....
No
yes. he's better than he was last year. you're right in that kipchoge is probably the only one who can stop him.
he started with his heavy dosages of THG, so yes
Whether he doubles or not in Athens and wins doesn't matter, because he'll just fade out in a year or two like every other african prodigy...(or the majority of).
I can't comment on his age, but I have no reason to suspect that Bekele is anything but a phenomenal athlete.
I have not yet been able to see video of his WRs, but I can tell you that the man is so far from his maximum potential, that it would not suprise me if he is not working as hard running 12:37 and 26:20 as Geb did when he ran 12:39 and 26:22.
Remember how much Geb improved from 22 ('95) to 25 ('98). I fully expect Bekele to run sub3:30, sub7:20, very close to 12:30 and sub26. He has more basic physiological talent than Gebrselassie, more verstality and Kostre has had over a decade of working with a similar talent (Geb) to provide better coaching to Bekele.
People just automatically assume drug use. When you compare guys like Gebrselassie and Bekele to a runner like Culpepper or Meb (both of whom I'm big fans of) it's easy to see why they're 230m ahead in a 10k.
The Ethiopians run tens of thousands of miles in their youth, then they join the national program where a single head coach guides them and all assistant coaches towards championship performances. They run six miles of just drills every day in addition to their 100+mi/wk of running, as well as 500 pushups and 2000 situps daily. None of the American distance runners (except possibly Webb) are doing drills and corestrengthening to that extent. There's so little wasted motion when the Ethiopians run and people think it's drugs -- it's training.
um, you don't really follow track very much do you. how many years now is it that he's done the double at world xc? it's not like he just showed up out of nowhere last year at the WCs.
chuck d wrote:
um, you don't really follow track very much do you. how many years now is it that he's done the double at world xc? it's not like he just showed up out of nowhere last year at the WCs.
I follow track.
I know he didn't come out of nowhere, and in no way did I state that he did.
And I guess we'll have to wait a couple years to find out who's right, n'est-ce pas?
~Biftek.
trackhead wrote:
He has more basic physiological talent than Gebrselassie, more verstality and Kostre has had over a decade of working with a similar talent (Geb) to provide better coaching to Bekele.
Let me add to my previous post that I do not believe Bekele is on drugs...
Trackhead, I like that point of view, I never would have thought of it that way.
Bekele no doubt has a ton of talent, however, you put Kostre and Hermens together there is only one result. A drugged up athlete, hell Hermens was as dirty as they come back when we competed. You honestly think now that his meal ticket is on the line they aren't doped? I would love to think otherwise, but unfortunately I am also a realist.
Trackhead
Where did you find the info about the Ethiopian training, espicially the drills and core stuff? Just curious if you have any more indpth info.
Track clinics; Irv Ray has had contact with Portugese, Moroccan and Ethiopian coaches.
you don't know any thing about kostre
Trackhead:
Do you know if besides plyos and hill running, the Ethiopians do strength training (weights or squats etc.) for their lower body? Geb and Bekele's quads are pretty big.
Kostre is a genius...and Roba before him. Give credit where it is due.
Kenenisa will take both the 5k and the 10k.
I agree, Bekele can win the double. It should be interesting. I wonder what the weather will do to him, though? Will it be wicked hot and humid?
Kipchoge is an amazing talent, so he is a definite contender. So is Geb and the other dude from Ethiopia (Shiine?). I am counting on a couple of other guys from Kenya, perhaps a Moroccoan or Algerian, being in the hunt too. Tinman
?
Biftek Elking Moose wrote:
Whether he doubles or not in Athens and wins doesn't matter, because he'll just fade out in a year or two like every other african prodigy...(or the majority of).
Kenyan prodigies seem to fade out at a much higher rate than Ethiopian ones. Remember, Geb was a bit of prodigy himself.
bystandard wrote:
he started with his heavy dosages of THG, so yes
There U go again.
Formerly Native Son.
Either way whether he does it or not, we now have two high calibre athletes in KB and El G who have the stones, to race double and take each other on. This is going to be the best olympics ever.