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 take a look at of time, resisting assaults from a number of generations of athletes.
Now aged 49, he nonetheless appears to be like in good 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 fashion remains to be evident, too.
On Could 6 El Guerrouj was in Oxford for the Bannister Miles occasion to have a good time the seventieth anniversary of Roger Bannister’s first sub-four-minute mile. He stunned onlookers by stretching his legs locally mile, clocking 6:49 a number of seconds forward of Steve Cram as the 2 supermilers rolled again the years.
Quite a lot of legendary runners visited the occasion. In addition to Cram, Eamonn Coghlan, Filbert Bayi and Noureddine Morceli had been additionally to be discovered on the Iffley Highway observe. 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 quick viewers. He did make a while to talk with AW, although, and as our dialog ended he was whisked away to fulfil the obligation of ringing the bell to sign the final lap of the primary 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 may in all probability stroll down most streets in Britain with out being recognised. At Iffley Highway, nevertheless, he was amongst a educated viewers who appreciated his achievements. His long-standing world data apart, he received 4 world 1500m titles outdoor, three world indoor crowns and two Olympic gold medals. Not surprisingly, he’s typically considered the best middle-distance runner in historical past.
In 1998, as a younger journalist reporting for AW and The Instances, I used to be on the Stadio Olimpico – venue for this summer time’s European Championships – when he set his world 1500m file. “I felt nice the entire method,” he stated after the race. “It was nearly straightforward with the nice observe situations and the superb assist of the pacemakers.”
Hicham El Guerrouj (Getty)
So what would he have run if he had entry to immediately’s tremendous footwear and Wavelight know-how? “Perhaps 3:39 for the mile!” he laughs, earlier than including extra severely that he may squeeze inside 5:30 nowadays if he ran flat out.
Does he suppose present milers like Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman can threaten his data? “Jakob is a superb athlete and a fantastic runner,” he says. “He has all of the potential to interrupt my data and others from 1500m by way of to 3000m. He has began breaking data indoors however in relation to outdoor these sort of races want extra focus.”
El Guerrouj clearly has an excellent sense of humour and a mischievous facet, although. He provides: “I’m glad that my world data are nonetheless alive. And I’d like them to outlive a bit longer!
“I feel someday they are going to be damaged, perhaps by Jakob or perhaps one other athlete. It’s pure for this to occur. However I’m glad to be a part of the historical past and to take part within the evolution of observe and subject.”
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Getty)
Regardless of his pleasant method, El Guerrouj just 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 Could 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, along 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 simple. He struggled with visa issues ω earlier than lastly having 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, after I received the invitation from Thurstan [Bannister, one of Roger’s children] I used to be excited and glad 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 associates and colleagues and to have the ability to have a good time the entire legacy that our non secular father left behind for the group, Britain and the world and particularly for observe and subject. We have to see athletes like Roger Bannister who left one thing constructive 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 after I was invited to run at Crystal Palace in London,” he remembers. “The organisers put a particular occasion on the observe to fulfill Sir Roger. I used to be excited to fulfill him because it was such a fantastic inspiration for myself and lots 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 observe and walked across the observe and later we met with shut associates to have tea and low 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 really like him. He left an enormous legacy behind him and I’m glad the household took the chance to assemble everybody to have a good time 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 associates and I’m glad to fulfill individuals who love our sport. We underestimate observe and subject. Now we have a fantastic sport and legacy and it’s superb to fulfill followers.”
Such was his brilliance, El Guerrouj is understood nearly as a lot for his uncommon defeats as he’s for his quite a few sensible victories. Followers keep in mind him dramatically falling on the bell within the 1996 Olympic 1500m closing, for instance, plus his slender shock defeat to Noah Ngeny within the 2000 Olympic 1500m closing and dropping by the hands of Eliud Kipchoge in an exciting 2003 world 5000m closing 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 workforce 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 effectively, 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 lots and I do know each metre of this race. The mile is totally completely different. In case you are not robust bodily and mentally, you can not run it effectively.”
Ingebrigtsen et al take observe. The world’s biggest ever miler believes his world data are beatable,however it received’t be straightforward.
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 buy 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 space.
“I need to reside and see how briskly human beings can go,” the 54-year-old advised AW on the Bannister Miles occasion on Could 6. “I’d 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 immediately’s spikes and data about vitamin and coaching?
“It’s exhausting to say however it’s increasingly potential,” 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 closing two laps then I’d have perhaps run a second faster.”
Like Hicham El Guerrouj, Morceli is a big 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 may break 4 minutes however he did and he opened the door for us.”
» Subscribe to AW journal right here
