Lagat not ready to forget Beijing disappointment
Published: Saturday | August 15, 2009
Putting the disappointment of the Beijing Olympics out of his mind is not an option for American distance runner Bernard Lagat.
The two-time world champion in 2007 is hoping for a 1,500-5,000 repeat in Berlin and it could be the bad memories from 2008 that drive him to the top of the podium this year.
"I always have to not forget Beijing, because if I forget Beijing it's like I'm not really realistic even about myself," Lagat said yesterday, a day before the start of the World Championships. "It was the biggest disappointment in my life."
Lagat won the silver medal in the 1,500 while competing for his native Kenya at the 2004 Athens Olympics and took bronze in 2000, but he didn't even reach the final in the event at the 2008 Games.
"I trained well and I wanted to win ... but then I got injured," Lagat said, referring to his Achilles' injury. "There were so many frustrations leading into the Games."
And more after it.
"A lot of people now know Bernard did not get to the finals in the 1,500, but they don't know why," Lagat said. "Now I've been able to train well. I took my time off, my Achilles healed very well."
The men's 1,500-metre qualifying starts today and Lagat said he has been training at 100 per cent leading into the competition. That's better than when he entered into the last Worlds, in Japan in 2007.
Train consistently
"When I prepared for Osaka I did exactly what I was doing now, but I had problems with my stomach," Lagat said. "I took some medication which actually messed me up. There was a roller coaster just right before, but I was able to train consistently.
"This year I'm good. There's no problem."
To get ready for this season, Lagat did some racing at 800 and 1,000 metres - short distances for a 1,500-5,000 man.
He said he was doing that for fitness, but also for another reason.
"There's a lot of tactical things that go into the 800," Lagat said. "I was trying to run just in case something like that happens in the 1,500."
Lagat and the rest of the American team at this year's Worlds will be competing at the Olympic Stadium, the home of the 1936 Games.
It was in Berlin more than 70 years ago when Jesse Owens won four gold medals and showed up the Nazi government's racist theories.
To remember Owens' great achievement, the US team will compete with the initials 'JO' on their uniforms.
"Jesse Owens ... opened a lot of doors, not only for the US athletes, but also for the world," Lagat said. "And that is why it's a great message that we are running here to celebrate his life."
BERLIN (AP):
IAAF president Lamine Diack says he is considering running for another four-year term as head of the World Athletics Federation.
The 76-year-old Senegalese former long jumper has been at the helm of the biggest Olympic sport for 10 years and had been expected to stand down in 2011.
He said yesterday he had been asked by "many people" to seek another term, adding: "It is possible - if I am in good shape. It depends on my health."
It had been anticipated that the 2011 election in Daegu, South Korea, would be a duel between former Olympic champions Sergiy Bubka of Ukraine and Sebastian Coe of Britain.
Coe is head of the London 2012 Olympic Games organising committee.
BERLIN (AP):
Polish pole vaulter Anna Rogowska will compete at the World Championships despite spraining her right ankle in training on Wednesday.
Rogowska landed awkwardly on her right foot during practice in Germany, team doctor Marek Prorok said yesterday.
The 28-year-old Pole, who took bronze at the 2004 Athens Olympics, was walking normally yesterday but had yet to run on the ankle.
The injury is not to her foot, used to push off during the vault, but could still dent the Pole's medal chances.
Rogowska had emerged as a strong contender in Berlin since upsetting Olympic and world champion Yelena Isinbayeva at last month's London Grand Prix.
Qualifications start for women's pole vault today and the final is two days later.
