King of the Mile retires

Mailin kuningas, kaikkien aikojen keskimatkojen juoksija, Hicham El Guerrouj lopettaa huikean uransa.

(BBC) At a news conference, a tearful El Guerrouj described his decision as "historic and difficult", saying he was crying out of "joy and not sadness".

El Guerrouj said he had not slept well since winning his double gold in Athens.
"I took the decision to retire because I suddenly began to sleep well three weeks ago," he said.
"During this period I was in a state of flux, I just did not know whether I should run or stop. Now it is done, I am relieved."

"I have no willingness or motivation to continue competing. I am quitting racing to spend more time with my family and focus on my business.

"For 16 years, I've done sports. Now I want to start a new life. I will return to another world whose horizons I do not know."

The "King of the Mile" felt he had nothing left to achieve after his historic double triumph in Athens.

El Guerrouj became the first man since Finnish legend Paavo Nurmi in 1924 to complete the 1500m-5,000m double.

EL GUERROUJ FACTS
Born: 14 September 1974
World Athletics medals:
2003 - 1500m gold, 5,000m silver
2001 - 1500m gold
1999 - 1500m gold
1997 - 1500m gold
1995 - 1500m silver
Olympic medals:
2004 - 1500m gold, 5,000m gold
2000 Olympics - 1500m silver
World Indoor medals:
1995 - 1500m gold
1997 - 1500m gold
2001 - 3,000m gold

Personal Bests:
800 m
Outdoor 1:47.18 Torino 2 Jun 1995
1000 m
Outdoor 2:16.85 Nice 12 Jul 1995
Indoor 2:20.11+ Gaz Liévin 22 Feb 1998
1500 m races under 3:33.00: 67
Outdoor 3:26.00 WR GGala Roma14 Jul 1998
Indoor 3:31.18 WR Sparkassen Stuttgart 2 Feb 1997
One Mile
Outdoor 3:43.13 WR GGala Roma 7 Jul 1999
Indoor 3:48.45 WR Flanders Gent 12 Feb 1997
2000 m
Outdoor 4:44.79 WR ISTAF Berlin 7 Sep 1999
Indoor 5:01.31+ Gaz Liévin 23 Feb 2003
3000 m
Outdoor 7:23.09 NR VD Bruxelles 3 Sep 1999
Indoor 7:33.73+ NR Gaz Liévin 23 Feb 2003
Two Miles
Indoor 8:06.61 NR Gaz Liévin 23 Feb 2003
5000 m races under 13 minutes: 2
Outdoor 12:50.24 Gspike Ostrava 12 Jun 2003

Hichamin saappaita sovittava Ramzi lähettää terveiset mb:n lukijoille :-P

Haile ei juoksekaan ensi sunnuntaina, ei kulje..

Daniel Komen lupaa mersunsa hänen vieläkin voimassa olevan kolmosen ME:n rikkovalle kenialaiselle.

Rolling Stones : Gimme Shelter

iPodiin on tungettu Who:n Who's Next, Kingston Wall:n: Real Live Thing ja Led Zeppelin:n Precense.. Kotona on viime aikoina pöörinyt Disco Ensemble:n First Aid Kit ja Tool:n 10 000 days..

Greetings from Helsinki, realistisia postikortteja..