Athletics: Gebrselassie fails in Olympic bid
The 39-year-old trailed home in a time of 27 minutes 20.39 seconds.
AFRICA:
Former 10,000 metres world record holder Haile Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the London Olympics after finishing seventh at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo. The 39-year-old trailed home in a time of 27 minutes 20.39 seconds, nearly nine seconds behind winner Tariku Bekele in a race staged as an official Ethiopian Olympic trial. “I was wondering if I can run, just the top three, but it did not work,” said Gebreselassie. “The last 400m it was not good for me.” Gebreselassie admitted his Olympic dream had died. “That’s over, yeah. No more.” Gebrselassie had been hoping to travel to his fifth Olympics and was in confident mood after winning the Great Manchester Run last weekend. He won gold in the 10,000 metres in 1996 and 2000.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2012.
Former 10,000 metres world record holder Haile Gebrselassie failed to qualify for the London Olympics after finishing seventh at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Games in Hengelo. The 39-year-old trailed home in a time of 27 minutes 20.39 seconds, nearly nine seconds behind winner Tariku Bekele in a race staged as an official Ethiopian Olympic trial. “I was wondering if I can run, just the top three, but it did not work,” said Gebreselassie. “The last 400m it was not good for me.” Gebreselassie admitted his Olympic dream had died. “That’s over, yeah. No more.” Gebrselassie had been hoping to travel to his fifth Olympics and was in confident mood after winning the Great Manchester Run last weekend. He won gold in the 10,000 metres in 1996 and 2000.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 29th, 2012.