Hicham El Guerrouj wins the 1500m Olympic title in Athens (© Getty Images)
Rabat, MoroccoThe double Olympic gold medallist, and four-time World champion at 1500m, Hicham El Guerrouj has confirmed to the Royal Moroccan Athletics Federation (FRMA) that he will not participate in the 10th edition of the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland (6 – 14 August).
It will be the first time that El Guerrouj has been absent from the biennial World Championships since he made his debut in 1995 when he took the silver medal.
In a statement to l'Agence Marocaine de Presse (MAP), El Guerrouj, 31, made his regrets about his non-participation in Helsinki.
“I am sad and bitter to be absent for the first time from the World Championships, but I will be present in Helsinki to support my colleagues.”
“My preparations had gone well until the end of June and I had aspirations at 5000m in Helsinki.”
“I have hesitated in taking this decision until late, and have discussed it with the President of the National Olympic Committee, the President of the Federation, with my trainer, my family and my team.”
“I have made enormous sacrifices and undergone many self sacrifices in defence of the Moroccan national colours since my participation in the 1992 World Junior championships in Seoul from where I took the bronze medal at 5000m, and I have always considered myself to have been a soldier at the service of my homeland.”
El Guerrouj also indicated that 2005 would now be a sabbatical year for him competitively, that he would take a break from running, and that he would restart training possibly with the intention of competing in the next indoor season.
Mohammed Benchrif for the IAAF
