Middle-distance great talks about his \u201cspiritual father\u201d Roger Bannister, Eliud Kipchoge\u2019s longevity, super shoes and why Jakob Ingebrigtsen has potential to break his longstanding world records<\/h5>\n
A quarter of a century has passed since Hicham El Guerrouj went on a world record-breaking spree in Rome. In July 1998 the Moroccan clocked 3:26.00 for 1500m before returning to the Italian capital 12 months later to run 3:43.13 for the mile. They are marks that have stood the test of time, resisting attacks from several generations of athletes.<\/span><\/p>\n Now aged 49, he still looks in good shape. The only proof of the passing of time are some flecks of grey on his chin. When he starts to run, his distinctive smooth style is still evident, too.<\/span><\/p>\n On May 6 El Guerrouj was in Oxford for the Bannister Miles event to celebrate the 70th anniversary of Roger Bannister\u2019s first sub-four-minute mile. He surprised onlookers by stretching his legs in the community mile, clocking 6:49 a few seconds ahead of Steve Cram as the two supermilers rolled back the years.<\/span><\/p>\n A number of legendary runners visited the event. As well as Cram, Eamonn Coghlan, Filbert Bayi and Noureddine Morceli were also to be found at the Iffley Road track. Yet none attracted as much interest as \u201cEl G\u201d.<\/span><\/p>\n Swamped by selfie and autograph hunters, he patiently greeted his fans and admirers as they queued for a brief audience. He did make some time to chat with AW<\/i>, though, and as our conversation ended he was whisked away to fulfil the duty of ringing the bell to signal the last lap of the main men\u2019s mile race which was won by Ossama Meslek as four men broke four minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n Ossama Meslek and Hicham El Guerrouj (Will Palmer)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n El Guerrouj could probably walk down most streets in Britain without being recognised. At Iffley Road, however, he was among a knowledgeable audience who appreciated his achievements. His long-standing world records aside, he won four world 1500m titles outdoors, three world indoor crowns and two Olympic gold medals. Not surprisingly, he is generally regarded as the greatest middle-distance runner in history.<\/span><\/p>\n In 1998, as a young journalist reporting for AW<\/i> and The Times<\/i>, I was at the Stadio Olimpico \u2013 venue for this summer\u2019s European Championships \u2013 when he set his world 1500m record. \u201cI felt great the whole way,\u201d he said after the race. \u201cIt was almost easy with the good track conditions and the excellent support of the pacemakers.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hicham El Guerrouj (Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n So what would he have run if he had access to today\u2019s super shoes and Wavelight technology? \u201cMaybe 3:39 for the mile!\u201d he laughs, before adding more seriously that he might squeeze inside 5:30 these days if he ran flat out.<\/span><\/p>\n Does he think current milers like Jakob Ingebrigtsen, Josh Kerr and Jake Wightman can threaten his records? \u201cJakob is a great athlete and a great runner,\u201d he says. \u201cHe has all the potential to break my records and others from 1500m through to 3000m. He has started breaking records indoors but when it comes to outdoors those kind of races need more focus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n El Guerrouj clearly has a good sense of humour and a mischievous side, though. He adds: \u201cI\u2019m happy that my world records are still alive. And I\u2019d like them to survive a bit longer!<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think one day they will be broken, maybe by Jakob or maybe another athlete. It is natural for this to happen. But I\u2019m happy to be part of the history and to participate in the evolution of track and field.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Jakob Ingebrigtsen (Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Despite his friendly manner, El Guerrouj is not an easy man to track down. In the months leading up to the Bannister Miles I had drawn a frustrating blank when it came to doing an interview online. On the anniversary day of May 6 itself he also appeared reluctant and didn\u2019t want to do anything on video.<\/span><\/p>\n I soon realise this is perhaps because he\u2019s not too confident speaking in English. He prefers Arabic or French, although his English is better than he gives himself credit for and he handles the conversation fairly easily, with his wife, who is Moroccan but speaks perfect English, only jumping into the conversation a couple of times to help out with the odd word.<\/span><\/p>\n El Guerrouj\u2019s trip to Oxford was also not straightforward. He struggled with visa problems <\/span>\u03c9<\/span> before finally being able to make the trip to the UK. Given the trouble, why did he make such an effort to be there?<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cFirst of all, when I got the invitation from Thurstan [Bannister, one of Roger\u2019s children] I was excited and happy but wasn\u2019t sure if I could be part of it,\u201d he explains. \u201cBut finally I was able to be part of it with my friends and colleagues and to be able to celebrate the whole legacy that our spiritual father left behind for the community, Britain and the world and especially for track and field. We need to see athletes like Roger Bannister who left something positive for our sport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hicham El Guerrouj and Roger Bannister (Mark Shearman)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n El Guerrouj\u2019s eyes light up when he talks about Bannister. \u201cI had the privilege of meeting him in 2000 when I was invited to run at Crystal Palace in London,\u201d he remembers. \u201cThe organisers put a special event on the track to meet Sir Roger. I was excited to meet him as it was such a great inspiration for myself and many athletes who know the history of our sport.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n What did El Guerrouj think of the original sub-four-minute miler? \u201cHe was pretty tall and very British.\u201d At this point he struggles to explain in English and I suggest to him that he\u2019s searching for the word \u2018posh\u2019. \u201cYes, posh!\u201d he agrees. \u201cWe met at the track and walked around the track and later we met with close friends to have tea and coffee in his office.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n If Bannister is the \u201cspiritual father\u201d of the super milers, does El Guerrouj feel like a son? \u201cYes, I can say that. I respect him and I love him. He left a huge legacy behind him and I\u2019m glad the family took the opportunity to gather everyone to celebrate the anniversary.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Hicham El Guerrouj (Getty)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n As for the rapturous reception he was given in Oxford, El Guerrouj adds: \u201cIt\u2019s always a pleasure to share with friends and I am happy to meet people who love our sport. We underestimate track and field. We have a great sport and legacy and it\u2019s very good to meet fans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Such was his brilliance, El Guerrouj is known almost as much for his rare defeats as he is for his numerous brilliant victories. Fans remember him dramatically falling at the bell in the 1996 Olympic 1500m final, for example, plus his narrow shock defeat to Noah Ngeny in the 2000 Olympic 1500m final and losing at the hands of Eliud Kipchoge in a thrilling 2003 world 5000m final that also featured Kenenisa Bekele.<\/span><\/p>\n Talking of whom, what does El Guerrouj make of Kipchoge\u2019s amazing marathon exploits in recent years? The Kenyan will go for a third successive Olympic gold this summer while, a few days after this interview, the 41-year-old Bekele was confirmed in the Ethiopian team for Paris.<\/span><\/p>\n Eliud Kipchoge and Hicham El Guerrouj (Mark Shearman)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cKipchoge has given another dimension to the sport,\u201d he says. \u201cHe has shown that an athlete can run well, even after being almost 40 years of age. He is an inspiration for the new generation and he is leaving a huge legacy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n El Guerrouj stepped up in distance during his career to famously win a 1500m and 5000m double gold at the 2004 Olympics, but he never ran a marathon. I ask him what his favourite event was, fully expecting him to say the mile. But he replies: \u201cMy favourite is 1500m. It\u2019s part of my heart. I competed in it a lot and I know every metre of this race. The mile is completely different. If you are not strong physically and mentally, you cannot run it well.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ingebrigtsen et al<\/i> take note. The world\u2019s greatest ever miler believes his world records are beatable, Hicham El Guerrouj This article first appeared in the June issue of AW magazine, which you can buy here<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/athleticsweekly.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/World-Record-745x500.jpg\")
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but it won\u2019t be easy.<\/span><\/p>\n
Born:<\/b> September 14, 1974, Berkane, Morocco
PBs:<\/b> 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 12:50.24
Achievements
<\/b>2004:<\/b> Olympics 1500m and 5000m gold
2003:<\/b> World Championships 1500m gold and 5000m silver
2001:<\/b> World Championships 1500m gold; World Indoor Championships 3000m gold
2000:<\/b> Olympics 1500m silver
1999:<\/b> World Championships 1500m gold
1997:<\/b> World Championships 1500m gold; World Indoor Championships 1500m gold
1995:<\/b> World Championships 1500m silver; World Indoor Championships 1500m gold
1992:<\/b> World Junior Championships 5000m bronze<\/p>\n
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