1 / 4 of a century has handed since Hicham El Guerrouj went on a world record-breaking spree in Rome. In July 1998 the Moroccan clocked 3:26.00 for 1500m earlier than returning to the Italian capital 12 months later to run 3:43.13 for the mile. They’re marks which have stood the check of time, resisting assaults from a number of generations of athletes.
Now aged 49, he nonetheless appears to be like in fine condition. The one proof of the passing of time are some flecks of gray on his chin. When he begins to run, his distinctive easy type continues to be evident, too.
On Might 6 El Guerrouj was in Oxford for the Bannister Miles occasion to rejoice the seventieth anniversary of Roger Bannister’s first sub-four-minute mile. He stunned onlookers by stretching his legs in the neighborhood mile, clocking 6:49 a number of seconds forward of Steve Cram as the 2 supermilers rolled again the years.
Plenty of legendary runners visited the occasion. In addition to Cram, Eamonn Coghlan, Filbert Bayi and Noureddine Morceli have been additionally to be discovered on the Iffley Street monitor. But none attracted as a lot curiosity as “El G”.
Swamped by selfie and autograph hunters, he patiently greeted his followers and admirers as they queued for a short viewers. He did make a while to talk with AW, although, and as our dialog ended he was whisked away to fulfil the responsibility of ringing the bell to sign the final lap of the principle males’s mile race which was received by Ossama Meslek as 4 males broke 4 minutes.
Ossama Meslek and Hicham El Guerrouj (Will Palmer)
El Guerrouj might in all probability stroll down most streets in Britain with out being recognised. At Iffley Street, nevertheless, he was amongst a educated viewers who appreciated his achievements. His long-standing world information apart, he received 4 world 1500m titles open air, three world indoor crowns and two Olympic gold medals. Not surprisingly, he’s usually considered the best middle-distance runner in historical past.
In 1998, as a younger journalist reporting for AW and The Occasions, I used to be on the Stadio Olimpico – venue for this summer time’s European Championships – when he set his world 1500m document. “I felt nice the entire method,” he mentioned after the race. “It was nearly simple with the great monitor circumstances and the superb help of the pacemakers.”
Hicham El Guerrouj (Getty)
So what would he have run if he had entry to at this time’s tremendous footwear and Wavelight expertise? “Possibly 3:39 for the mile!” he laughs, earlier than including extra critically that he would possibly squeeze inside 5:30 today if he ran flat out.
Does he assume present milers like Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman can threaten his information? “Jakob is a superb athlete and an amazing runner,” he says. “He has all of the potential to interrupt my information and others from 1500m by way of to 3000m. He has began breaking information indoors however relating to open air these type of races want extra focus.”
El Guerrouj clearly has a superb sense of humour and a mischievous aspect, although. He provides: “I’m joyful that my world information are nonetheless alive. And I’d like them to outlive a bit longer!
“I feel in the future they are going to be damaged, perhaps by Jakob or perhaps one other athlete. It’s pure for this to occur. However I’m joyful to be a part of the historical past and to take part within the evolution of monitor and subject.”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Getty)
Regardless of his pleasant method, El Guerrouj isn’t a straightforward man to trace down. Within the months main as much as the Bannister Miles I had drawn a irritating clean when it got here to doing an interview on-line. On the anniversary day of Might 6 itself he additionally appeared reluctant and didn’t need to do something on video.
I quickly realise that is maybe as a result of he’s not too assured talking in English. He prefers Arabic or French, though his English is best than he offers himself credit score for and he handles the dialog pretty simply, together with his spouse, who’s Moroccan however speaks good English, solely leaping into the dialog a few instances to assist out with the odd phrase.
El Guerrouj’s journey to Oxford was additionally not easy. He struggled with visa issues ω earlier than lastly with the ability to make the journey to the UK. Given the difficulty, why did he make such an effort to be there?
“To start with, once I obtained the invitation from Thurstan [Bannister, one of Roger’s children] I used to be excited and joyful however wasn’t certain if I may very well be a part of it,” he explains. “However lastly I used to be in a position to be a part of it with my pals and colleagues and to have the ability to rejoice the entire legacy that our non secular father left behind for the neighborhood, Britain and the world and particularly for monitor and subject. We have to see athletes like Roger Bannister who left one thing optimistic for our sport.”
Hicham El Guerrouj and Roger Bannister (Mark Shearman)
El Guerrouj’s eyes mild up when he talks about Bannister. “I had the privilege of assembly him in 2000 once I was invited to run at Crystal Palace in London,” he remembers. “The organisers put a particular occasion on the monitor to satisfy Sir Roger. I used to be excited to satisfy him because it was such an amazing inspiration for myself and plenty of athletes who know the historical past of our sport.”
What did El Guerrouj consider the unique sub-four-minute miler? “He was fairly tall and really British.” At this level he struggles to elucidate in English and I recommend to him that he’s looking for the phrase ‘posh’. “Sure, posh!” he agrees. “We met on the monitor and walked across the monitor and later we met with shut pals to have tea and occasional in his workplace.”
If Bannister is the “non secular father” of the tremendous milers, does El Guerrouj really feel like a son? “Sure, I can say that. I respect him and I like him. He left an enormous legacy behind him and I’m glad the household took the chance to collect everybody to rejoice the anniversary.”
Hicham El Guerrouj (Getty)
As for the rapturous reception he was given in Oxford, El Guerrouj provides: “It’s at all times a pleasure to share with pals and I’m joyful to satisfy individuals who love our sport. We underestimate monitor and subject. We have now an amazing sport and legacy and it’s excellent to satisfy followers.”
Such was his brilliance, El Guerrouj is thought nearly as a lot for his uncommon defeats as he’s for his quite a few sensible victories. Followers bear in mind him dramatically falling on the bell within the 1996 Olympic 1500m remaining, for instance, plus his slim shock defeat to Noah Ngeny within the 2000 Olympic 1500m remaining and dropping by the hands of Eliud Kipchoge in an exhilarating 2003 world 5000m remaining that additionally featured Kenenisa Bekele.
Speaking of whom, what does El Guerrouj make of Kipchoge’s superb marathon exploits lately? The Kenyan will go for a 3rd successive Olympic gold this summer time whereas, a number of days after this interview, the 41-year-old Bekele was confirmed within the Ethiopian staff for Paris.
Eliud Kipchoge and Hicham El Guerrouj (Mark Shearman)
“Kipchoge has given one other dimension to the game,” he says. “He has proven that an athlete can run nicely, even after being nearly 40 years of age. He’s an inspiration for the brand new era and he’s leaving an enormous legacy.”
El Guerrouj stepped up in distance throughout his profession to famously win a 1500m and 5000m double gold on the 2004 Olympics, however he by no means ran a marathon. I ask him what his favorite occasion was, absolutely anticipating him to say the mile. However he replies: “My favorite is 1500m. It’s a part of my coronary heart. I competed in it rather a lot and I do know each metre of this race. The mile is totally totally different. In case you are not robust bodily and mentally, you can’t run it nicely.”
Ingebrigtsen et al take word. The world’s best ever miler believes his world information are beatable,nevertheless it received’t be simple.
Hicham El GuerroujBorn: September 14, 1974, Berkane, MoroccoPBs: 1500m 3:26.00 (3:31.18 indoors); one mile 3:43.13 (3:48.45 indoors); 2000m 4:44.79; 3000m 7:23.09;5000m 12:50.24Achievements2004: Olympics 1500m and 5000m gold2003: World Championships 1500m gold and 5000m silver2001: World Championships 1500m gold; World Indoor Championships 3000m gold2000: Olympics 1500m silver1999: World Championships 1500m gold1997: World Championships 1500m gold; World Indoor Championships 1500m gold1995: World Championships 1500m silver; World Indoor Championships 1500m gold1992: World Junior Championships 5000m bronze
This text first appeared within the June problem of AW journal, which you should purchase right here
“A sub-3:40 mile is feasible”
Noureddine Morceli, 3:44.39 miler, three-time world and 1996 Olympic 1500m champion, believes the milers of tomorrow can shut in on the three:40 barrier for the gap.
“I need to stay and see how briskly human beings can go,” the 54-year-old advised AW on the Bannister Miles occasion on Might 6. “I might like to see individuals break 3:40 for the mile.”
The Algerian was at his peak 30 years in the past however would he have run shut to three:40 if he had at this time’s spikes and data about diet and coaching?
“It’s exhausting to say however it’s increasingly attainable,” he says. “After I ran 3:44 I needed to run the final 800m alone after being paced by Marcus O’Sullivan. Even in my time, if I’d had another person to push me within the remaining two laps then I might have perhaps run a second faster.”
Like Hicham El Guerrouj, Morceli is a large admirer of Roger Bannister and his exploits too.“I used to be impressed by him and he’ll encourage many extra generations after me. Nobody believed anybody might break 4 minutes however he did and he opened the door for us.”
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