Hicham El Guerrouj after his 1500m World Record in Rome (© Getty Images)
It was a torrid evening in Rome last year, when the young Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj set a new world record in the 1500 metres on his way to becoming one of the three athletes to share in the inaugural jackpot of the IAAF Golden League.
This year, El Guerrouj is not in the running for the Golden League: his event of predilection, the 1500m is not a Golden League event in 1999, but the young Moroccan has other ambitions. "I want to bring back to Morocco all of the records held by Said Aouita, from 1500 to 5000m!"
The first of those records, Hicham notched up here at last year’s Golden Gala, the Roman leg of the IAAF Golden League. His next objective is to repeat last year’s performance, but this time over the mile and take back to Morocco the record for this classic distance currently held by Algeria’s Noureddine Morceli.
"If the conditions are as good as last year – the weather, the crowd and the pacemakers – then I really think that I can break the record tomorrow. For me it is very important. I owe it to all those who have helped and supported me, especially my family, who need something to boost their morale after my uncle ‘s recent death."
"Said Aouita was my hero, a hero and a myth for the whole of Morocco. He brought Moroccan athletics to the front of the international stage and I want to bring all of his records back to Morocco.
"I will not be running the 5000m just yet, though," he laughs with Salah Hissou, seated at this side: "not until Salah retires! Maybe, in fact definitely , it will not be until after Sydney. This year I will run another 6 or 7 races on the Grand Prix circuit, with the ultimate aim of defending my 1500m title in the world championships in Seville in August."
Sean Wallace Jones for the IAAF
